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).

I have just spoken to dh- he seems to think I will be spending less time watching tennis now Rafa is out. Foolish man. . After 13 years ( and the fact one of the first times he came to my house, I made him sit through a Henman Wimbledon match - even though I didn't even like watching Henman) you would think he would know me better I will watch pretty much anything. Unless it's Shrieky. I draw the line at her.

And what do we think of Dimitrov now going out with Nicole Sherzinger? She looks Iike she could eat him for breakfast.

Ooh is he? I'm glad she has finally finished with Lewis Hamilton then.

I was just thinking, 'ooh, Dogsbollocks is doing ok at the moment.'

And then I saw he is playing Federer in the second round tomorrow.

I am such a jinx as a supporter.

(From your mouth to God's ears, Raahh.)

How did I miss the new thread. I've been looking for it.

Poor Rafa.

I'm not sure this thread would be the same without you jinxing people left right and centre, Raahh

Rafa

Doesn't seem to work, my jinxing power, when I say I'm supporting Djokovic. Must sense my lack if sincerity.

Watching Dimitrov playing an Argentinian. Reminded me I miss Del Porto- who is supposed to be recovering. I hope he comes back this year. Or he might end up like Soderling.

Does the lack of Del Potro account for the lack of El Pesky Juan?

Although my life is so much easier without her here, I sort of miss her

(Don't tell her I said that!)

Poor Dogsbollocks!

COME ON ANDY

magi- I don't know where Juan is, unless she has namechanged. I can't always keep up with nc's, which is why I no longer bother to change my own.

I am not getting much tennis watching done. . I need to catch up on what has been going on over night.

Serena is in bright yellow. And what appears to be a crop top

That won't be allowed at Wimbledon , surely (the crop top, that is- obviously acid yellow is out at Wimbledon).

Kvitova is out. I like her.

it was Edberg's birthday yesterday. I no longer need to pretend to care about Federer now Stefan is no longer his coach. I will miss seeing him courtside.

I've seen Juan around. I think a lot of us have a lot of RL crap going on, and the undercurrent of unpleasantness pervading the rest of mn is putting a lot of people off posting as much as they might have done. Its getting worse 'out there' not better.

Usual suspects through then.

BORING !

I don't think it's boring, but I will say I'm in the ABD camp (anyone but Djokovic).

I hope Jo Konta does really well -- she's fun to watch.

The Hewitt-Ferrer match might be good.

I can't watch any, NoBarbara

Unless the bbc decide to show a match.

I'm definitely in the ABD camp.

I'm sorry, I'm on a right downer at the moment. Of course Serena and Roger winning isn't boring.

I like Jo too. Quite a few women who are good to watch these days.

Its not the same without Rafa. It sort of feels like we should be used to it by now though.

I think I'm like Raahh. My 'vamoses' are cursing him - that and the awful yellow tops.

BBC have got a few highlights on on Saturday - around noon.

Don't know if they will show the final if it's Andy or not.

Lovely to see you Mrs V.

Talking of Konta is any one thinking of coming to the tennis @ Eastbourne in June (18 - 25th)?

If so, it would be lovely to meet.

Hello magi lovely

Lovely to see you too. How is your gorgeous PFBG ? All well I hope.

I can't plan what I'm doing tomorrow at the moment, never mind June. Every year I say I want to see proper, live tennis somewhere but it never happens.

I think the Hewitt-Ferrer match has great potential- Lleyton won't want to go out without a fight, and Ferrer is great over 5 sets. I'm looking forward to it.

I'd like to see Stan back into the final- but I want to see the top seeds pushed a bit to get there, or it does get boring. I'm noticing that Kyrgios isn't being rammed down our throats as much this year. Maybe they think a lower profile will help his temperament. i don't want him to win anything though- can't stand him.

I don't mind Djok these days. I don't know why. Think I'm just embracing the inevitable. I'd rather he wasn't winning everything - and it will be interesting to see what happens at RG this year.

Raahhdog doesn't seem too keen on me watching anything tennis, he's being very vocal the moment.

Wouldn't surprise me if Lleyton won that one.

Krygios has already been fined. But agree, not so much shout about him - yet.

Vamosbitch is currently in the garden woofing away the flying rats pigeons. Its one of her favourite Things To Do - unless they fly directly over her and she's scared silly.

MrsV Didn't know Kyrgios had already been fined- not really surprised though.

I only know because I read it on the bbc sport bit this morning - I think it was for a loud expletive on court - so not much changes ! Someone else got fined too but can't remember who.

If this was a masters, rather than a slam, Krygios's fine would be taking very close to the point at which he'd have a 28 day ban!!

MrsV - PFBG is adorable & now 8 months. I am just back from visiting them all for a few days.

I said to DH this morning that I love her so much that I would rather be with her than watch the whole of Wimbledon!

DH nearly fell over from the

Wow, magi

I agree about the fine/ban.

Some people will inevitably warm to Djoko; the fact that he must have hired a PR manager given the heavy-handed charm offensive he's on all of the sudden may help. And I know, I know ... he's the greatest player ever in the history of the world.

As much as I will never warm to him, myself, I can't believe there is any truth to him being part of a gambling/fixing thing, as has been alleged now by an Italian paper. (There's a story on both the Guardian and the Telegraph websites today.)

Will Jack Sock beat Lukas Rosol?

I am longing to see live tennis, too, magimedi. I put my name in The Ballot, so I'm practically there already, right?

Does anyone subscribe to Tennis TV or Tennis Channel Everywhere?

What do you all think of Azkarenka? Does she have a chance at the title?

I like Jack Sock. He has the best name in tennis, since Mardy Fish.

And of course, when he plays doubles with Pospisil, he becomes PopSock. sort of.

Popsocks (am old enough to remember them) are fucking gross - always gave me athletes foot when I wore them.

The trouble with popsocks was the fact they stopped the circulation just below the knee. And left a line that took forever to disappear. Other than that, they seemed like a good idea at the time.