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.

Ferrer has now taken the 3rd set. It's close looking at the scoreline- but I expected Phillip to be a tricky one.

Seems to be a great match 3-1 to Ferrer now in the final set.

This bloke on the hurling commentary looks like Tim Henman's long lost Irish cousin

Jane he really does!

5-4 to Kohlschreiber now

6-5 for Ferrer - with serve.

nailbiting stuff, even though I can't 'watch'

And Spain are through.

Well done Ferrer. Poor Kohlschreiber though.

Monte Carlo starting today. It'll be interesting to see what form Djok is in.

And the first melt-down is on. Donaldson freaking out over whether the ball was in and got very aggressive with the umpire and then called the supervisor out. It didn't go his way and he got a violation so he then called the supervisor back out!

Jane Part of me wants to see Djok on good form (I think the tour needs it).

But he meets Rafa in the Qf's...

Still don't sem to be able to watch. But I have a plan. Maybe.

I don't have Sky- bur I checked on the scores- looks like Djok's first set went o.k then. 6-0 .

What's the plan Raahh, are you heading for the airport?

Well I didn't get to see Djokovich play but he won easily it seems.

The airport would be an excellent plan!

I think i can somehow watch online. My bil works for Sky and at some point gave us access to something.

I'm a technophobe and have never tried to use it.

Dh. insists it's a friends and family thing or I won't use it at all!

I will be relying on you Jane to fill me in on the important stuff.

Like the colour of the shirts .

Glad to see Milos got through. Looked shaky at the start. No Delpo here ,or Barca. Clay isn't really his surface. I'm not sure whether he will play Madrid and Rome before RG.

Yes Raahh you do the stats, I'll do the style pretty bland outfits so far - I'm waiting for Rafa to bring it!

I was traumatised to realise Shapovalov and Tsitsipas are the same age as DS1, made me feel a bit ancient.

I did see Shap blowing out some candles on his cake. My niece is 19 next month. It's all wrong really- because in my head i'm 19 forever .

My oldest is 15 and currently me all sorts of grief. I'm clinging to 'it's just a phase' and a wine glass.

Thiem as put through hi paces a bit.

I'm relying on him to beat Novak!

Though Coric has been good this year- he might cause an upset. Possibly.

Coric could well beat him. Should be a good match.

The Italians are on today so plenty of style. Fognini has his lucky number 17 on his back which worked today at least. Seppi has bright yellow shoes and matching cap. Bellissimo!

They showed Rafa returning from practice earlier and getting mobbed. You couldn't actually see him with the crowd around him.

Foggy is looking good!
I'd love Coric to cause an upset. He came so close against Fed the other week.

Looking forward to Rafa playing tomorrow. I hope he has an easy win. He has a tough few weeks ahead.

I wonder how Rafa is going to play? He looked good in Davis Cup and I think if he looks good here he'll probably sweep the clay season! But if he's still shaky after the injury, then it's wide open I reckon. I would have Delpo as a dark horse for RG, good chance for another slam IMHO. He's had some good results on clay before his wrist surgeries, I guess it's the main surface in Argentina so it makes sense. I'd love to see Thiem win one of the clay masters/RG though. But aside from those two and Rafa, I can't think of many contenders!

Also I wonder if Rafa will be wearing his "party shorts"?! The kits are pretty boring so far...