All new TENNIS thread- are we ready for clay? The road to Roland Garros starts here...

[Raahh]

well, it has already started so, get the vanish out, the orange stuff gets everywhere.

Highlights to include- can Rafa win a tournament this April?
Is Djok starting a losing streak wishful thinking ?
Will Murray get enough sleep to retain his title in Madrid? (Doesn't appear to be scheduled to play Munich)
Will Stan's shorts be a patch on last year's?
And never discount the Rog Bot!

So, Vamos! Allez! Let's go!

What another exciting match. I fancy Andy's chances tomorrow. Will be great, the top two players again (and yes I know federer is temporarily no 2)

Happy Birthday, Andy! ( see, I can be nice)
Djok has a habit of ruining people's birthdays, as he did to Rafa last year in RG.

This time next week it all starts again- still can't believe it has been a year.

Come on Andy he's playing so well.

Yay Andy! That will be a good burst of confidence.

Brilliant stuff Andy. Let's hope you can repeat it in 3 weeks time...trying not to get ahead of myself but he could do the Career Golden Slam (because surely he will win Australia one day)..especially if Lendl re-joins his team!

Andy played really well there, the best I've seen him play on clay.

Happy birthday to him

I've been watching the highlights on you tube, it really does look like it was a great match, some cracking long rallies.

A very happy birthday Andy

Go!

Andy!

Win RG (& then Wimbledon!)

That was amazing. I'm so happy. That will really boost his confidence going into RG. He's improving on clay. That winning shot was amazing.

yesssss! well done Andy.

was watching clay court tennis on Eurosport today, at last!

Tipsy's back. good match with Delbonis - lies-over -the -ocean.

Got RG on tv planner all set and match up! .

Federer has withdrawn from RG. I'm not surprised- he's not been in great shape this year, and it is probably better he focuses on the grass. It might end up being his last season.

and no, I haven't really been checking the news every 5 minutes expecting this news yes ,I have

And it means Rafa should be seeded 4, which gives him a fighting chance of a reasonable draw, and he will avoid Djok til the final, I think?

Ooh. It's only a few days till it starts. Is the seeding out yet?

Starts Sunday, seeding out tomorrow. Roger left it to the very last minute really to pull out. Better than waiting til it starts , which would have let a qualifier/lucky losrt in, and not changed the seeding.

I am SO excited!

And look at the TV guide: (skip forward to Sunday on ITV4)

www.itv.com/tvguide/

12 hours of tennis - YAY!!

Sarnies for dinner for the next 2 weeks.

magi-I can't wait! Whether my lot will let me watch all day, is another thing

I will be making a lot of slow cooker food, and 'eat what you can find in the freezer' meals.

I only have DH to bother about & he quite likes & knows better than to interrupt me!

(So he should after nearly 31 years )

Not a bad draw for Andy. Novak and Nadal in the other half.

Looks quite promising if he can play as he did in Rome

Hullo All.

Sooooo excited for tomorrow. 12 and a half hours of tennis. Yay !

I love this time of year.

PS

I've got all the food shopping in. Meals prepped and frozen, so its all bung in the oven, wait and eat.

Or if it gets hot and summer starts it will be a quick dash for salad bits n pieces !

I've learnt.

You are sooooo organised, MrsV

I love RG, the contrast between the clay and grass. Brute force and elegance. And the fact the time difference means it starts early

PMSL that the Beeb are touting Murray as the 'new king of clay'.Yes, because 3 clay tournaments over umpteen years is comparable to 49...I don't dispute he has really improved, but he's way off the greatest pace yet.

Really thrilled for Thiem in Nice- he is my favourite newbie, and doing so well. Congrats to Stan in Geneva, finally finding his clay feet.

I'm soooooooo excited

Rafa's draw is ugly though. Groth a threat because of his serve, and bloody Fognini down the line. Grrr

Vamosssssss

No way am I organised. No sooner than I type that, my brood then announce, because clearly its down to me, "Muuuuummmmm" < whiny voices> "we need bread and milk and loo rolls".

So I shall be huffing off to the shops for 10am tomorrow.

Or DS will have a bit of shopping to get for me in his lunch break from work.

I haven't decided yet.

You know what really pees me off ? We have ALWAYS had a shopping list in the kitchen that they all know, if something has run out, or has nearly run out, they should EFFING WELL WRITE IT DOWN so things don't get forgotten when I go shopping.

I've damaged my bloody back too, and everytime I think its getting better, after a night in bed I'm stiff as concrete in the morning. Its blooming painful.

Its not even like I sleep that long. Average is 5 hours I think.

I can't be injured or in pain though. I have enough to do without dealing with pain too.

Very annoying. I think I did it cutting the grass.

Which now needs cutting again. ARGH !

^All that is why I am especially looking forward to RG.

These next few months are my RL escape.

I've put the decorating off till after the Plympics.

Fuck off is Murray King of Clay. How fucking rude.

He beat Novak, which is good. But he wont face him till possibly Final, is that right ?

I'm hoping it will be an exciting one this year. I feel it has potential, anyway.

Oooh, I can feel the butterflies....

I'm saying nothing, lovely.

We play it match by match.

Oooh, it starts tomorrow? Hooray! My baby is due tomorrow so either we need a late night arrival tonight or labour can start after close of play tomorrow. But no later than that because I need this baby out.

Mum is here so I don't need to worry about being organised.

Hilarious that the BBC is calling Murray King of Clay. I like him and support him but that's silly talk. Just hope he can make it to the final.

Hi Grouchy !