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?

And Tsonga is through. It's been a great effort for Evans though. Jo Willy is looking lovely.

Wonder who will take the tournament now?
I would, obviously, love to see Rafa go far. He would then have all of the slams twice, no-one else in the open era has done that ( Djok can do it if he wins RG again I suppose). But realistically- he has Monfils next which could be tricky, and if he gets past that, possibly Raonic. I'd be happy with a Milos win. Stan is looking good this year-end maybe another chance for him. Might even be Roger. That would be something. And would shut up the ' winning stops at 30' camp.

Morning Raahh. Gutted for Andy - proper gutted. Switching allegiance to Rafa now, would be happy with RF or Stan though if anything goes wrong for Rafa. Kei leaves me cold.

Morning carabos .I agree about Kei- I have no idea why I have never warmed to him, I'm sure he's very nice.

Roger definitely showing nishikori who is boss now.

I've never been much of a Roger fan, despite him being much more Edberg like in style of play than Rafa. I've appreciated him more as he has got older. It was all the pompous monograms.

Well, week 2 of the AO will be starting off completely differently to how anyone could have predicted. No Djok or Murray, and possibly the most in form player is Federer, who has hardly played for 6 months and a ( as we must remember) is 35.
. Amazing.

Bet there will be celebrations in the Zverev camp too- not the Zverev who was expected to do well, perhaps, but I'm sure Sascha will be chuffed for his big brother all the same.

It really is bizarre. So pleased that Dan had a good run.

I didn't realise that about Rafa then bring the only player to win all the slams twice. I hope he does it. That would be amazing

Being. Not bring

I have always hated Federers pompous monograms BUT I am sure I spotted one on Murray's shirt today. It was AM not RF obviously. I was a bit surprised because it is a bit pretentious.

I think a lot of them now personalise their stuff now - Djok had his FACE on his shoes. but Fed walking into centre Court wearing what looked like his grandad's cardigan and his initials in gold on it, always stuck in my mind at the time. And made me laugh.

Even the lovely Stefan had S E on his shirt in the 80's, but it was multi coloured and swirly, and for ages I thought it said 88 ( it was 1988)

Yes it was the cardigan that was really the pits. I wasn't a fan of Serena's trench coat one year either

oh - yy, the trench coat! Serena wears some terrible things, considering she is a 'designer'. . They are rarely flattering.

I'm excited- and nervous- about tomorrow. Rafa has something like a 12-2 hth record over Monfils . Only Gael has matured a lot over the last year, and , well, Rafa had an 11-0 record over a certain Stan Wawrinka once... until Aus. Got everything crossed. Vamos

Theim/Goffin could be very close . But I've said that before this week and been wrong

Dimitrov should end Istomin's run. in theory

Raonic is playing Bautista-Agut, no reason that should be a problem.

And Konta is up against Makarova. Fingers crossed for her.

I'm very puzzled by Serena's arm warmers this year. I'm not quite sure what purpose they serve. They look ridiculous and in the Australian heat I'm quite sure she doesn't actually need them

I am most pissed off & disgruntled about Andy's defeat. I couldn't quite believe it when I saw the results this morning. Sad Dan's run came to an end, but he should be very proud of himself.

Some good matches coming up tonight, looking forward to catching up in the morning.

Hello Lovelies

RL v tough and wont waffle on with all my woes...

Just wanted to say hello, I do lurk and read often.

Very excited to see Rafa playing well.

Djikdock who ?

MrsV !!! Good to see you! Sorry RL is tough

MRS V

Huge hugs and kisses. Sorry to hear about your RL woes. So bloody nice to see you.

I myself have been in the Land of Disconnect e.g. No tv and no wifi in the great Canadian wilderness for a couple of days. Must catch up on everything.

Way hay hay hait a minute, Murray LOST?
Wow. I told you I was out of touch!

Is Raonic still in?

MrsV!

Goffin through, Istomin currently ahead against Dimitrov, Milos up next.

I'm getting nervous for Rafa.

Dimitrov doing better against Istomin now, but Bautista Agut is looking to spoil the party against Raonic . Although I will be torn if he goes through as it should be Rafa/Milos next round.

Mrs V - lovely to see you. Sorry RL is a pita.

Well done to Jo! hope she can now beat Serena with ease.

Do they play in the rain at AO then? Busta-Gut has just had a bit of a medical issue. Not too serious I hope....

Dimitrov now safely through.

Back to Murray- I suppose if he's going to have a blip, the early part of the year is the best time for him to do it- in terms of keeping the number one ranking, anyway. He has less to lose.

Lendl was saying before Christmas that major titles matter more than the number one. (easy for him to say, though since he got lots of the former, and was the latter early in his career for a very long time ). So with that in mind, if this is a change in form and not just a blip (and the media are quick to write off Djok/Rafa/Fed when it happens to them), it will be interesting to see how long the special relationship lasts this time.

Jo definitely likes it in Aus. Maybe it's because she was born there .

Phew! Milos safely threw the 3rd... but... what will I next round?

I'm enjoyng having so many players to root for, though. But, I would have loved to see Potato play.

He would have had a great chance, the way the draw is going!