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?

Serving for the title.

Wow.

They have both played so well this tournament, no one could have predicted it.

Come on Roger, come on! Nerves are in shreds!

Rafa not done yet though...

These two will be the death of me!

Much as I really wanted Rafa to win, losing to Roger is not the worst result.

Fantastic. For both really.

Well done Fed!

That was such a great ending to the tournament. Excellent from both men.

I'm laughing and crying here.

They have both played a brilliant tournament. Especially after both were out injured, they've both beaten big players to get there. Amazing stuff. Fantastic final.

And pretty good stats for Rafa's serve, for a change.

This is going on a bit. Rafa and Roger must be cramping up.

Both of them are truly brilliant. Tennis won't be the same without them. The last few months of last year gave us a glimpse of what it will be like without them and it wasn't great, was it? Murray did very well, but he'll never be in the same league as these two. I'm not sure anyone ever will.

Bless Rafa, am really glad he got this far.

RG number 10?

Absolutely, Raah. Lovely speech from Rafa. A true gent.

Lovely speeches :)
Wasn't Rafa s day but a great match. I hope they can both build in this momentum for the rest of the year

creme I agree. They are a different league. It's a big deal for British tennis, what Murray has achieved , but in the bigger scheme of things, he is not up there with the greats.

These two are really showing and feeling the love for each other. Aw!

A draw would have been great, Roger.

Exactly, Raah. Djokovic too; technically excellent, but he doesn't have the personality and charisma to inspire most tennis lovers.

Djok, whatever he does, will never have what these two have. He could potentially win several more GS, he's rarely injured, if he can regain his form. But he will never be adored in the way these two are.

Slight hint from Roger in his speech there that it might be his last Austin Open. If so, I hope he can go out near the top, like Steffi Graf did. I would love to see Rafa get his 10th French Open and Roger an 8th Wimbledon.

Nobody was and nobody will be.

X-post, re Djok. I have a theory that it was winning at RG and still not being the fans favourite that caused Djok's game to fall apart last year. He really wanted the title, it was his main focus, and then it still wasn't enough.

Yes, going out on top would be the best way. He can't go on forever. This has to be a bonus win. And he won it impressively.

I'm going to have to do stuff tomorrow

I wonder if RF will set his sights on 20? If he's careful and manages his schedule right, it's possible. Djok ain't coming back - he's not like these two in that respect- and much as I love Andy, he's a natural number 3/4 masquerading as #1 for now.