NEW TENNIS THREAD! Happy 2016! Gearing up for the Aussie Open.

[Raahh]

Here we are again- last year has flown. Soon be Wimbledon.

Hope everyone is well- very wet here (NW).

So, Qatar has started, Rafa has won his first round in Doha after a shaky start. So that's already better than last year!
Hopman cup underway.

Here's to an exciting 2016, Olympic year, can anyone stop Djok, who is starting to look unbeatable?

I'm really hoping Rafa can have a better year, and of course there is a wee Murray on the way . (Might not be a fan of Andy, but babies are always good news).

Good point there Raah about Konta and the Fed cup.

I actually thought the same as Croft TBH, but then again hes not the only one to have had a baby , Feds, Djok etc, and they carried on playing same as always.

I tend to think he wants some sort of paternity leave (if theres such a thing in sports) and be with wifey and kid for a bit, maybe his hearts not on the game at the mo?

and YY congrats to Jamie. one Murray at number oNE!!

Well, no real surprise- Djok is about to win in Miami. Wasn't fussed by the final, I'm not a fan of Nish either!

I didn't bother watching tbh. I quite like Nish & wanted him to win, but going on their head-to-head didn't think he would, so I didn't bother.

Really happy for Jamie Murray, and also for another of my fave players Nicolas Mahut who's just won back to back Master's doubles titles with his partner Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

Oh, good for Mahut- he's always been overshadowed by the other French players. But he has carved a steady career for himself (and will always have 'that' Isner match).

Yes he has, hasn't he? He's such a good grass court player that if more tournaments were played on grass his ranking in singles would've been much higher.

why are mens tourneys more attended than the womens?

Am watching Eurosport WTA tourney and I can count the ''crowd'' on one hand!

is it personalities?

much as I hate the Williams sisters theyre box office draw aren't they? cant really think of anyone else.

the men have more personalities? is that it? the quality of tennis in WTA is great,IMO although even Annabel Croft sounds bored!

I've been meaning to tell you BeckerLleytonNever, I think your user name is genius

Hello Maryz- I don't think tennis watching is essential I can ramble about anything

naked pictures always welcome

drama Ive had this username over a year now and you're the first to ''get'' it AFAIK.!

Are some players being as bratty entitled pampered as prem league footballers?

Ive noticed (Im prob com pletely wrong about this btw, just an observation) that say, for example,Novak and Troiki are playing a match . Novak wins 1st set. Troiki leads in 2nd set and suddenly Novak calls the trainer out citing an injury.

trainer sees to novak and suddenly hea playing well again. the Troiki suddenly has an injury and calls out trainer. then either plays better and beats Novak, or loses and blames his in jury.

not every player of course, and not every match, but seems to happen often.

did they have so many time outs back in the day? I don't remember so many in the 70s/80s, or are the curren lot more physically overworked or overpaid?

Becker yes I agree, and some players are worse than others for doing this. I'm also sure it didn't happen as often back in the day.

.

Becker

Novak was very well known for citing sudden-onset-injuries/problems for reasons to 'retire' from a match if it looked like he might not win.

He still does it, just much more subtley. -sneaky fucker-

sneaky fucker

Been ages since I've been on, I've forgotten how to do things.

I think I've spelt subtly wrong.

Now I know I have. Sheesh.

No 'e'.

Sorry.

As you were.

Hello Maryz my lovely.

Not disappointed in the slightest.

Did you guess ?

Hoping its a sign of things to come.

No Roland Garros win for him this year.

Again.

Ooh, get you you shit-stirrer !

Actually, RL has been so manic and stressy, I don't know.

I think I read he's improving all the time but not quite there yet.

I'm just living in hope at the moment I'll get to see some tennis.

Raahh will know, I reckon.

RAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !

Mrs V!!!!

Oi, Maryz it's only 255 days to Christmas [santa]

Haven't heard anything re-Rafa, though now that he has won a match the media will be claiming all sorts. I'm glad he had an easy win. .He's been playing down his chances but he always does.
He lost to Thiem last time they played (Rio?) so that will be on his mind next match.

Becker Djok has always done the injury/trainer thing- as has Murray. It's one of the main reasons I never liked either of them in the early days. Although Djok has got better. They are both lousy losers. But of course, now Murray can blame the baby .