TENNIS THREAD!- From the Road to Rio, to Flushing Meadows...

[Raahh]

before my phone decides to give up altogether, here's a new thread to get us on our way.

Andy Murray still in the Olympic Singles, as is Rafa,

Jo Konta through for the women.

Lots of missing names from the top players- but we are edging towards the US open- without Federer- and who knows, maybe even without Djokovic.

Could we be heading for all change at the top?

Hi Grouchy!

How is the Kiwi Baby? (hoping desperately I'm remembering things correctly!)

There was a compilation of funny tennis moments that someone linked to over on reddit -- and it included Jo Konta hitting a ball up into the stands after a victory, with the ball being caught by a woman with a baby in her other arm. Had to be a MNetter, surely?

I stayed up L A T E to watch Fed's match, which was pretty sketchy. He'll need to play significantly better than that to beat Berdych! I have been a fan of Fed's for a long time, and it is a very uncomfortable feeling to be wincing when it's his turn to hit a groundstroke. He was very lucky his serve was working for him.

Amazed that Kyrgios went out.

I am sorry that Tomic went through to the next round. I hope Dan Evans wins his next match.

Did anyone happen to watch the Hopman Cup at all? When Evans and Heather Watson played mixed doubles, their names appeared on the scoreline as "WAT/EVA". Loved that.

Hi Barbara! GrouchyBaby is well and nearly 8 months old already, which is obviously insane.

Love the Wat/Eva!

That WAT/EVA is brilliant, I saw it on Facebook!

Oh dear this is an unfortunate photo of Rafa

AO website player profile

He looks just like I feel this week, what with the inauguration and all.

Grouchy, I hope you are having fun with that baby. I remember that age as being particularly lovely.

Just watched Jo Konta win over Naomi Osaka. Does she have a chance to take it all, do you think? I would so like her to win a major.

Waiting for Grigor now. I hope he does really well. (Especially in the 4th round.)

Djok lost to Istomin. Wow.

Nice win for Milos.

Looking forward to Rafa and Baghdatis. I like Marcos, but not today.

I have so much to do this morning I hope I get to watch some!

I only really follow Wimbledon ( not a true tennis fan to be honest but I enjoy that in the summer) but I wanted to come on to say wow to the 119th seed for beating Djok. I know it happens and he will take it on the chin but blimey.The lady on BBC breakfast who does the sport section looked shell shocked at this news.
Shame that Watson is out.

80s- I am really not a Djok fan, but something has gone awry since he won at the French open last year. I'm a huge Rafa fan, and the commentators always bring up his losses at Wimbledon, but they are in a different league to these- Djok has now lost at Wimbledon and Aus, in the second round, as the defending champion. Which is pretty massive. But I do wonder what is going on mentally with him. Only someone daft would write him off completely (although the British media, who have already inscribed Murray's name on the trophy, will) .

Whether Istomin will get much further remains to be seen- the giant killers rarely ever do. But I did like his neon glasses. Although they were a bit distracting. He's not a bad player- been as high in the world as low 30s I think. He's one of those names that seems to have been around for ages.

Talking of distracting- Serena is wearing that horrible dress again. Oh, and she has won.

Marcos is resplendent in bright yellow. I do love the big bear, never really fulfilled his potential. However, yellow is never a good colour if you want to win, in my experience. In fact Rafa was wearing yellow when he lost in the first round last year.

ooh- I do like Carlos Moya. He is lush.

Having said yellow is not a good colour- obviously, Denis was wearing bright yellow specs earlier

I haven't checked on the overnight scores, but did you just say Djok lost? To Istomin??? Wow. Is Istomin still coached by his mum, I wonder? She'll be so chuffed with her boy

Raahh I so agree about Carlos Moya...

Drama I did. And yy, I think he might be. Quite a story, for him, being a wild card.

Moya is very lovely, and Wilander has just been saying it is an obvious, but 'good fit' choice of coach to join the Rafa camp. Uncle Toni wouldn't want a stranger, and a 'big name' really wouldn't fit. And of course, Moya is one of Rafa's best mates.

Baghdatis' little girl is very, very cute.

Yay! First set to Rafa, as expected Marcos putting up a fight. But Rafa's serve is looking a bit better- that has definitely been a weakness in recent years.

I need to walk the dog, but I'm scared to go out, in case it all goes pear shaped.

Oh, and it is my all time favourite player's birthday today. (Rafa comes second, sorry Rafa, but it's a very close second). Chalk and cheese, my 2 favourite players.

So Happy birthday to Stefan Edberg , 51 today. Who should have been MrRaahh. But I forgive him.

Well...Rafa's looking very, very good at the moment...

I could risk taking the dog out. Or give it an hour.

It's raining anyway. WussDog hates the rain.

Marcos has lost his way a bit now.

Theim through, after a 3rd set blip.

Rafa looking very comfortable. I'm reminded of RG though- 2 really great rounds, looked so much like his old self - and then turning up at that press conference saying he had to pull out because of his wrist. Gutted if he gets though this, I hope he bloody plays in his next round

And a fantastic shot there. Vamos!!

oh my, his daughter cracks me up. She was just yelling her head off. . I think she's about 4.

Vamos Rafa! Solid stuff. Nice interview too. I think he is just glad to still be able to play.

Now, I can walk the dog.

Where is MrsV? She is usually on these threads.

What an upset, Djokovic losing!

I have to hang around for some builders today so hopefully see a bit of tennis too.

Reruns of course! The time difference does not work in my favour unfortunately.

I'm not sure where MrsV is, think there was a lot on in RL, - she usually appears more around RG time. Like me, I'm afraid she gets rather fed up with the Murray-love. We can both appreciate the talent etc, but we don't need it mentioned every 30 seconds. . It's hard to avoid at the moment though. She is probably somewhere VERY happy that Djok lost, though.

It's why I like the fact AO is on Eurosport, and is not on the Beeb, or at least it doesn't involve them specifically, because I don't have to put up with Andrew Castle. Who seems to think the Number 1 spot was created just for Andy

(I am also glad, that this year I have remembered it is on Eurosport, after forgetting for the first week in other years, which has become a bit of a running joke ).

Real shame about Watson, because watching the re-play, she won the first set comfortably, and the next two ended up very tight indeed.