TENNIS THREAD- and it's the US OPEN already! where is 2017 going??

[Raahh]

New thread ,as we are very close to the end of the other.

I'm in denial that it is nearly September.

I am looking forward to Flushing Meadows. I feels like ages ages since I was able to 'watch' any tennis.

(although I always think, once it gets to March/April , everything goes in a flash. It will be the end of the school year again before I know it!).

Ooh, I've discovered the sky mix channel is showing the Federer match. Looks very close- not having it all his own way, Roger. I like Kohlshreiber.

Every time I tune in Grigor is playing so I expect him to win now!

DS has abandoned me to go to his friend's house. It pissing rain here.

For once it is not raining. Or trying to snow.

But it is still quite cold.

I'm half watching the Olympic skeleton, and the curling. whilst trying to tidy up. The dog is having none of it.

Watching a bit of Rio. Gael Monfils is through even though he has an injury. I'm too tired to concentrate!

Been following the scores in Delray Beach, sadly Delpo is out.

Rafa back in action next week, hopefully fully fit. I would hate it to jeopardise Miami or Indian Wells.

Lots happening his week, Acapulco, Brazil, Dubai, amongst others. Rafa not really got an easy draw in Acapulco.Just hope he's fit.
I also really hope Delpo has a good week.

Nearly March already!

Rafa has had to pull out before match. I had a feeling something like this would happen.

Not cheered me up when I'm cold and I've got to scrape ice off my car windows.

Reading his press conference it sounds like it's the same hip area injury from Australia. And I doubt he will play miami/ Indian Wells. It's probably not worth the risk.

Bother.

Stan is out of Miami and Indian Wells too

And now Rafa has withdrawn. which I'm not surprised by , but very Hopefully he will come back strong for the clay season.

I have everything crossed that someone steps up to knock the increasingly smug Roger off his perch though.

I'm cheered up a bit by Del Po being in the Acapulco final- in the absence of Rafa, that's a good result. I hope he can continue his good run of form for a few weeks.

It is starting to feel like a very odd tennis period at the moment with the number of the big names (who 12-18 months ago were dominant- Novak, Murray, Raonic, Stan - they were the top 4 at the back end of 2016) out injured. Will be interesting to see how many of them of them make it back to the 'top'.

I think Dkok is playing in Indian Wells- but there are a number of the 'usual suspects' who aren't. Goffin is also out, Tsonga, Gasquet. Although they aren't in the form they have previously, they are players you expect to see in the latter stages of the bigger tournaments.

The snow is melting a bit here. Bit it's still cold. The dog is unimpressed .

Very happy to see that that Juan won in Acapulco. Now he just needs to stay healthy and fit.

I like the Acapulco trophy- it looks like a big pear

Well done to Juan in Acapulco- he didn't have an easy draw, it is good to see him getting back to where he should be. Now , onwards to Indian Wells . Fingers crossed he stays fit and healthy for that .
I like the Acapulco trophy, looks like a big pear.

Double post- very odd- the first one didn't look like it posted at all

Been catching up with Indian Wells and notice that Djok's run of bad luck continues as he has lost. I was actually hoping this would be his chance to step up and maybe take on Roger ( I'm not a Novak fan, but I'm getting very bored of Roger and the constant fawning over him).

I am pinning my hopes on Del Po having a decent run- but he's been handed a rather tricky draw.

Dimitrov and Zverev have both lost too.

Oh rubbish- now Thiem has lost as well . It's all working out very well in Roger's half . Again.

Sad to hear of the death of Ken Flach, who was only 54 (only 8 years older than me- funny how when I was young I never realised how close in age some players were to me.). I remember his partnership with Robert Seguso very well, and when he won the Olympic gold (the first year it was a proper part part of the games again).

Fed, it's like they are just all rolling over at Indian wells- Minfils, Cilic.

Come on Delpo!!

that was supposed to say ffs, but Fed makes as much sense in the context!

Oh flip! Coric came so close to beating Fed in the semi final. .

I hope Del Po can get to the final.

I missed the result last night- it

Yayyyy! Delpo!

Absolutely thrilled Delpo won he looked so happy.
Hoping he can build a great season from here.

lady me too- just needs to keep injury free. I can't watch anything at the moment, so have been reading a bit about the match.

Roger hasn't really had to face many 'top' players on his runs so far this year, and he was pushed by Cilic, and now beaten by Juan. But I think Juan's style of play frustrates him. Things need shaking up a bit- Roger winning easily and everyone falling at his feet again would have been too much.

I wonder if he will play any of the clay season. He is obviously entitled to skip a certain number of tournaments if he chooses ( without being injured), as is Rafa now, (but it's it's harder for Rafa to choose to skip tournaments that affect him physically when the majority of the tour is on hard courts) but I wonder how desperate he is to consolidate the number one position that he might risk losing on clay? He's by no means bad on clay- but it's not good for his back, and it would be a risk.

I'm looking forward to the clay season- I'm hoping Thiem will step up, he's got a good game on clay, and hopefully Stan will recover. I miss watching Stan.