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.

Party shorts? I need to see those

The commentators seem to think Rafa is on good form so I hope they're right.

The Zverev brothers will have to play each other if they carry on winning.

Jane I think when he first wore those short shorts with the little gold trim (!) they asked him about it in an interview and he said they were his party shorts!! Haha I love Rafa

Does anyone know on what station Rafa being shown?

lady I don't have Sky, but I think it's on 501 (called Sky sports main event on my Virgin thingy) and 508 (sky sports arena).

Neither of which I have

I'm still working on a plan .

Think he's third up after Nishikori, then Djok .

Just checking in on the scores- early days, but Coric/Djok have just exchanged breaks of serve.

Come on Borna!

Novak seems to have lost a lot of weight since I last saw him play.

Even though Federer has decided to skip the clay court season again, I am watching with keen interest. I can't see past Nadal if he is in form for this title and the French Open.

I've got to take dd2 to the hospital to (hopefully) have the cast removed from her broken wrist.

This will give me plenty of time to check the scores probably!

Novak seems to have lost a lot of weight since I last saw him play
Agree! He looks like a strong gust of wind would blow him right over.
Raahh I hope your DD is ok.

Private she's fine now thanks. I was getting quite used to seeing her arm in a cast. They've taken it off now, and the arm underneath wasn't as grubby as I expect. Have just got home though.

Rafa started well against Bedene- Alijaz has woken up in the second set, it looks like.

....and then Rafa went on to win the next 3 games. Vamos

That's a good solid start.

Just read that Djok needed 10 match points to get past Coric. So, so close for Borna. He beat Murray last year in Madrid- beating Novak in his actual back yard would have been a big win.

Zverev is through. Bit of controversy after he smashed his racquet ( it's his thing) but then he spat in the direction of someone in the crowd - not at them, he was in the middle of the court - but still not very nice. He also flung away one of the advertising blocks at the back of the court and the umpire had a word with him but Zverev pointed out that Kokkinakis had tripped over one earlier in the week and hurt his knee and now has a cast.

This Djokovic - Thiem looks interesting in the early stages with Thiem breaking Novak in his first service game. He leads 3-0 so far.

Just checking into the scores- shame Thiem lost the early lead.

Come on Dom!

Jane interesting about Zverev . They are a hot headed bunch, aren't they? I hope Thanasi isn't too injured though.

Those things at the back of the court - that caused Kokkinakis to fall - are ridiculously close to the players. You'd have thought tournaments would have learned after what happened to Goffin but no. I agree with Zverev. They should be protecting the players.

Private you're right, there shouldn't be anything close enough really that the player should get caught up in it, just in the normal run of play.

And yes, Goffin is really only just recovering properly.

Most of them stand so far back now they should keep the area clear behind them.

I know! Poor Goffin, that was awful. I saw Kokkinakis is on crutches but hopefully not too badly injured. I can't imagine how mad I'd be if I was a player working so hard to get fit etc and then injured myself on a sponsor's hoarding thingy!

PS this Thiem-Djokovic match looks good...
Monaco looks an absolutely gorgeous setting as well!

I wish I could watch- I think the clay season has some of the best venues, scenery wise.

Dom doing well again in this set.

Well done Theim.

Dom wins!

It's still not happening for Novak.

Thiem even. Now Vamos Rafa.