*TENNIS THREAD CLAY IS ON THE WAY !*

[MrsVamos]

Hello Lovelies.

Marking place.

Although, if Venus did win, and Roger won the mens- Venus would be 37 by then, and Roger, 35- not far off 36.

That would be cool actually.

That was a truly immense performance from Rafa. Absolutely phenomenal. Congratulations on an unprecedented achievement in tennis. Incredible!

Wonderful performance from Rafa, so happy for him and it's great to see him absolutely back to his best

What I like (though it came at the expense of Stan) is that it was just relentless. He had a couple of nervy moments, but otherwise was brilliant.

And I feel much less wrung out than I usually do watching him in a final. Australia was hell, especially after the really close semi.

I know what you mean about the nerves/feeling wrung out.

Even today I had to go in another room occasionally because I feel that he plays better when I'm not watching him

I usually go and sit at the bottom of the stairs or pace the garden. I was quite calm today.

Which is good, as it was raining a lot towards the end( here, not there!)

I some do that with Fed.

When I was a kid watching Steffi Graf, I used to go for a walk in the middle of a match, if it wasn't going her way. Usually, she'd have found a way to turn it around, by the time I came back!

Creme I don't get as involved in the women's matches, but I do remember the Novotna match at Wimbledon, and being very nervous watching that.

I don't any more either, Raah, but I loved women's tennis in the eighties, nineties and early naughties. I think it was a golden age for the game and was more interesting to watch when a lot of the men's game was serve oriented.

Delighted for Rafa. I had to go out so just got back for the final set. I love it when he starts speaking three languages at the same time it's great to have him back and I would like to say up yours to all those commentators who thought he was finished!

up yours, indeed, Jane

(not yours, literally Jane)
You know what I mean!

I hope not

Best bloody news all day. Couldn't watch the match but the highlight reels have made me very happy.

Rafa has been advised to withdraw from Queen's. I'm not surprised, really. It's been a long season, and he's been at the top of his game since January. But since he's not getting any younger, and grass is crap on his knees, I suppose he needs to pick carefully. As Federer did, I suppose, by skipping the clay season altogether.

I can't believe Queen's starts today. I swear the year is flying by.

And everyone's favourite is back...Andrew Castle

I've been watching the Tsonga match, bit one sided.

It takes me a while to adjust to the grass season. Everything looks so bright at first!

I know I said it before but I love Tsonga's hair like that. He doesn't seem to be tested too much in this match.

His hair is great. i love Tsonga.

It takes me a while to get used to Andrew Castle. well, not that long to remember how much he irritates me.

Mannarino had a back injury- not sure what happened, he seemed ok, and then it just seemed to go.

Ya he looked like he just showed up but I only saw the end of it. The ball girls always perk up when Gregor arrives on court!

I actually don't mind Andrew Castle. His smugness makes me laugh. He's good on statistics.

I think what bugs me about Castle (and Mark Petchey, whilst I'm moaning) is the fact they won bugger all as players, yet sit there criticising other (far superior) players. At least other countries have ex-players who managed to win things as commentators- Wilander, Courier, McEnroe etc

and he loves Nick Kyrgios. That's another reason to get annoyed by him.

That's true! They probably can't afford any proper champions. When are they going to realise that nobody likes Kyrgios?

Dimitrov playing really well.