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).

oh, Grouchy- what a horrible day

Migraines are hideous, you have my sympathies. Hope your dh is ok, too.

As to Jo, she will play Madison Keys, or Shuai Zhang (who I don't know much about, but would be my preferred opponent for Konta, I think. Don't much like Keys).

Nice one Jo Konta! Really happy for her, and for Andy.

Grouchy poor you, what a day. Hope you feel better soon & that your DH isn't too battered & bruised. and

Madison Keys is injured- she seems to be in a lot of pain. It's now 1 set all- but I think she will struggle in the next set.

Poor you, Grouchy.

Your spelling of lie is fine.

The commentator is complaining that Zhang should be showing compassion towards her injured opponent, instead of pumping herself up. Very unfair, I think. Keys is choosing to continue- should Zhang just let her win?

And Zhang wins- perhaps not as well as she played against Halep, but a win all the same.

I feel for Keys- horrible way to go out.

Don't think I've ever seen Zhang.

Waddya reckon her v Konta??

I saw a bit of her match against Halep,(I had a weeks worth od matches recorded!) knowing nothing about her, and she played very well. Which was a shame, as I like HalepToday, she was making a lot of mistakes, and probably won because Keys could hardly move.

I want to say that Jo should have a real chance against her- but they are both in new territory, nothing to lose, it could be a real battle. Apparently Zhang was thinking of retiring before going through qualifying at AO. Bet she 's glad she didn't now, if only for the pay cheque!

And I'm a jinx.

Zhang to win.

DH is finally home and it turns out that some man actually deliberately pushed him off his bike! Will find out more later, but that's very unpleasant. Hope the police find who did it (in this CCTV nation it shouldn't be too hard, right?)

Thanks for all of your kind comments.

I hope the BBC at least has live text of Konta & Murray's next matches.

Hello Lovelies

Had to just pop on to add my cheers to Jo Konta.

She played brilliantly ! Such a lovely lady too, saw the interview after the match, she's a gracious girl. A few players could learn a thing or 2 from her.

Sad to see Stan go, but some good matches coming up - it all looks promising anyway.

I reckon Jo's on the way to the Final.

Grouchy- that's terrible, that it was deliberate. Who does things like that?!

Hi,MrsV- Jo is lovely. I did find it funny listening this morning to one of the (British) commentators getting huffy because he thought some of the Aussie commentators were trying to re-claim Jo as 'their's' (since she only took British citizenship in 2012). He was really taking it personally.

Grouchy

Hope you & DH are ok. People are fucking aresholes, aren't they.

Raahh

I 'watched' the match via the Aussie open website, then discovered it was on radio 5 live but the commentators are shite ! So switched back to web.

Really actually quite annoyed that the BBC didn't put Jo's match on bbc 2 this morning, its quite a big deal, what she's doing. You couldn't escape it when Andy started winning rounds when he started playing well and winning.

I bet the only bloody live match I see of this Slam will be the men's final of they show it. And I bet they only do if Andy's in it. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I did think earlier actually, can you imagine if Andy made the Final, but then gets The Phone Call ?

Would he actually forfeit and not play, awarding his opponent the Slam win ?

Poor sod. Be one of the only times I feel sorry for him not winning, but happy because he's going to be a Daddy !

Ahem. I meant ARSEHOLES.

Of course.

DH says he's had issues with this guy before but has never reported it. Police said he should have, of course. DH is mostly worried as no-one saw the guy push him but did see the argument afterwards. We'll see what happens.

Djokovic through, of course. Can Federer challenge him this time? I'd think Novak is too strong on hard courts.

Just checking in, didn't realise we had a new tennis thread for the not so new year - thanks Raahh!

Do keep up, Hearts - honestly

GO! Andy

Go! Jo [tennis}

& even more for Jo - my local girl!

We are dead proud of you, down here in East Sussex!

GO! Jo.

GO! Jo

(just in case my typo jinxes her - Gawd forbid!)

Don't worry, magi it will be Raahh that jinxes her

Your poor DH, grouchy. Hope the police can do something about it.

Go Jo!

Brilliant win for Jo.

Murray match will probably go as expected, but there have been some tremendous rallys.

GO! Andy!

Jo is a

ANDY!!

Just checked the overnight scores

Wow, what a win for Jo!!

Delighted for Andy too

Great stuff from Jo!

I'm British when it comes to tennis (there are no Kiwis to get excited about) so I'm really pleased to have two Brits through to the semis.

So chuffed for both but especially Jo. Hope she can give Kerber a run for her money! Haven't seen yet who Andy's got for his semi.

Andy will be playing Raonic in his semi.