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!

Bloody hell, poor Rafa. Sounds nasty.

Poor us too.

He had been playing so well.

I fully expect shit loads of 'drug' allegations to crop up now.

He was in such promising form, after a shit couple of years for him with illness and injury. I really thought this might be his comeback

Wrist injury that is a tear, risked breaking the wrist if he carried on playing.

Clearly the right thing to do.

Oh, Rafa. We will miss you very much.

He's suing that Frenchwoman, isn't he, for doping allegations?

Yy, the drug talk is BOLLOCKS.

The French woman, who as an ex-minister, ffs, should have really known better.

Oh bollocking fucks. That's taken the shine off a bit.

I'm pinning my hopes on a Stan win now.

Del Potro hasn't recovered properly from his wrist injury, even after all this time.

I was reading yesterday how excited he is to be flag bearer in Rio, that his biggest career regret was missing London.
I hope its not as serious as it sounds.

Still gutted about Rafa but temporarily distracted when I saw Kyrgios close up. This came instantly to mind:

I can't believe Rafa is gone, I didn't even get to see him play

I feel somewhat deflated.

Oh well, frees me up a bit tomorrow now.and the final might not be a must see event either

Yes, shifting allegiance to Stan too. I mean, obvs want Murray to win in a patriotic way, but Stan has the better chance of beating Djok, I reckon. He has an exciting unpredictability to his game.

Is he more emotionally stable than Murray on court, do we think?

I forgot about the Olympics SO wanted Rafa to win gold in that.

Could potentially be ..... I don't want to say it, Raahh. Wrists are funny buggers.

Hope he gets to go to Rio.

Awwww, its gutting. If he was playing that bloody well with an injury....ack, its just horrible for him.

I'm in the anyone but Novak camp now.

Don't care who.

Bugger, didn't even get to see any of his matches. What a shame, sounded like he was back on good form

Very deflating.

Just pissing realised. Its my bloody fault. (see posts from yesterday evening)

Fucking jinxed it, didn't I ?

Awwww. He's gutted. Bless him.

Shit. Just shows how awesome he is.

Wish you all the best, Rafa.

Ack bollocks I'm really now.

:( :( :(

Totally deflating MrsV , not sure I care now who wins :( :(
Poor Rafa.

Nishikori just broke in the 5th.

I'm not convinced by John and Sam. I am sure inside they are thrilled to bits.

poor Rafa. This is worse than when he loses in the early rounds. 😖

So sad for all you Rafa fanatics. Coming here to say so was my second thought on hearing the news.

First thought: No! Not Djokovic!

(With you on that, Mrs. V.)

Isn't someone here a tremendous Dominic Thiem fan? Any chance of a Cinderella run from him?

I really wanted Nish to lose. Though now I don't care.

Juan is the big Them supporter, and I have grown very fond of him over the past year. He's doing brilliantly, and now( in the absence of Rafa) stands a huge chance of reaching the quarter finals.