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!

Well, even though Bourgue lost, I hope it gives the Murray camp something to think about. And that the commentators stop thinking he's won the second he steps on court. There is an arrogance of some supporters when a Brit is playing, that does the player no favours.

Bagel

I'll make you feel better. From French Open to after Wimby every year, I do literally nothing but watch tennis, unless I absolutely have to.

Raahh

I hear you. Depending on how far he gets, don't forget it gets worse for Queens and Wimby.

Thank goodness for a mute button.

Bloomin vommentators.

(I love that my phone doesn't auto-correct that anymore )

I don't understand why they keep going on about this 'situation' with Amelie causing him upset and contributing to his performance on court ?

Because from what Andy said to the press the other day, I don't think he's that bothered about what she said ? I got the impression that he was keen for the press not to make more of it than there was, and for them not to run Amelie down.

Bizarre.

They need to have an excuse, MrsV. What they don't seem to get is the more the media bring the subject up, the more likely he is to end up getting pissed off. And then it will affect his performance.

In shirt watch news- not so keen on the stripy zebra dress with straps combo Halep was wearing. Was abut like a zebra school uniform.

Its just silly though !

Aggie's very neon too. Better than zebra I must say.

I reckon they all go slightly silly here because Wimby is soooo white. They have to get colour out of their system beforehand.

Well. As far as Andy goes I'm going to repeat what I said before.

I think since having the baby he's realised that there is a life outside of tennis, and in the grand scheme of things other things will eventually matter more.

He's always said its more important to be a good Dad than win another Slam. That's what children remember. I remember reading an article about it and being very pleased that he has his head screwed on right.

Completely agree MrsV and that's exactly the way it should be.

Hello gorgeous, haven't forgotten you.

Are you having a meet up before you feck off and leave me ? Let me know, and I'll do my very bestest to get to you xxx

Unless you want to arrange something just us ? Email or text me. xxx

Cos I was just finkin like, maybe we should FINALLY meet, and we could, like, have a leetle drinkie cos I is 40 next monff.

O. M. G.

It keeps hitting me.

Where the Jeff did 39 years go....

Sorry, all.

Yup. I'm the mad one who waffles on about anything.

Sorry. Last one.

Just thought I'd ask you here Hearts im case I missed anything about a meet up. I don't visit the rest of mn too much.

Anyway.

Back to tennis.....

Aggie's neon is working very well for her.

Poor Carl/Kyle lost. No surprises there.

Bagel She seems to have got rid of her wind and is watching the world happily with a full stomach.

Great finish to Andy's match. Got very tired of the commentators expressing their bemusement at Andy losing.

MrsV I love that he has the right attitude to fatherhood and is happy to talk about it. It's how it should be.

My 4 year old is pleased by Aggie's dress.

Grouchy

So glad to hear Girlie 3 is doing well.

Agree re Andy. Just thought it was so refreshing in a sportsperson when by default especially in singles tennis, everything encourages you to be totally selfish. I know it has to be that way, but I believe that there comes a time when 'real life' matters more.

My DD, who's a tweenie, has just informed me that Aggie's dress is "too short for my liking".

I suppose I should be pleased.

Aggie wins.

Whose up now then, John ?!

Ooh, Raonic.

Gilles Simon into a 5th...

Gilles won !

Oi, John, thought we were watching Raonic.

Re. Andy and his priorities, I'm sure I read somewhere that Wawrinka's marriage broke up because he wanted to focus exclusively on his tennis career. He left the family home to live in a hotel when she was pregnant with their child...

Focusing on his career doesn't stop him dating Donna Vekic, if Kyrgios is to be believed, mind you!

its so frustrating having to work and missing the games live I have to make do with radio 5 live

Thank god I've got itv4 and Eurosport to catch up on what I've missed,

Andy really needs to up his game now, although Bourge was apparently playing a blinder

And how nice that Andy was as generous as always to his opponent after the match, although I would expect nothing less. He is always critical of himself and doesn't go for cheap excuses

It's really annoying having to work at this time of year, isn't it AmI? I have to keep checking the scores online.

So Simon won in 5 sets? He seems to have a habit of doing that. He looks like he's about to keel over with exhaustion, then pulls out a win from somewhere.

I hadn't realised ITV4 was broadcasting, as well as Eurosport.

Thoughts on which coverage is bette? (I mean the commentary, if it's different.)

Morning All

Sprink I've only got ITV4 - commentating is very biased towards Murray and Djokovic. As is the match showing.

Might get a bit more variation as the Slam goes on. Hope so anyway.

Main commentators are Jim Courier, Mark Petchey, Fabrice Santoro, Sam Smith, Nick Mullins, Marion Bartoli.

Guy Forget is there today, talking about the expansion and re-development of RG. Very interesting.

Hopefully some good matches coming up today. Coming up shortly is the Bedene match.

VAMOS RAFA !

(sorry, just had to get it in there)

Morning all.

Melon city here today. Good thing I accidentally bought some massive nursing bras.

Watching the Bedene match. I always wonder how disruptive the players find cheering from the other matches.