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.

Scary how good Rafa is looking at the mo! I bet Fed is feeling glad he skipped the clay

I have everything crossed for this afternoon- busily refreshing scores on my laptop (whilst ironing) .

Vamos Rafa

I’ve done my ironing already. Just sitting down to watch the match - Monte Carlo is looking very nice (as is Rafa in his yellow/orange).

First set! Thank goodness. My refreshing finger is getting tired.

The first set was tighter than the score line suggests. Rafa seems to be playing better in second set.

I like the clay court season - matches are on at sensible times, they usually take place in nice sun drenched cities and Rafa usually does well

Fizzy that's why I like clay too

Hurrah!

The second set was definitely quicker than the first.

One tournament defended... 3 to go. (and maybe he can win Rome along the way)

Yay! Onwards and upwards. Great to have him back playing so well.

I haven't done any ironing and I don't intend to if I can help it.

Princess what's-her-face is looking well.

Charlene? Maybe. I always feel sorry for her, she looks so sad.

I am waiting until I can figure out how to actually watch

Which at this rate, might be RG - but I'm sure I saw Madrid at least last year.

Rafa is thanking everyone he can think of

Yay well done Rafa! I’m sure he says that every tournament he wins is the best one on the tour

I love when he does a sentence in three languages. And then ends with "see you when I see you, au revoir". He just makes me happy.

His thank you speeches are always very funny. He does try

Tricky draw for Rafa in Barcelona- Novak has taken a wildcard and could meet Rafa early on. Again. Rafa could meet Kei again in the early rounds there too.

He needs to do well- the court is named after him there after all!

Nishikori has retired in his match in Barcelona- which is interesting, as he was saying before the tournament how he stands a real chance against Rafa this week. .

And Klizan (who I've always liked is currently 4-1 up against Novak).

Now, it's early days. But- Come on Martin!

Well, he got the first set, but Novak seems to have remembered where he is is the second

And Martin has won!

So another week where the much talked about Rafa/Novak match up won't happen .

Of course, Rafa still has to win his own matches!

Klizan looks like he is trying to prove yesterday was no fluke- he won his first set against Lopez 6-1 .

Hopefully Rafa will win easily later too. Was sorry to see Schwartzman lose yesterday, I like him.

Looking at the scores- Jaziri is a game away from beating Grigor, and has called the physio?

I have it on in the background while I'm trying to clean up all the dust caused by window fitters I don't know what injury he has. Seemed to be abdominal. Doctor gave him a couple of painkillers though I imagine taking paracetamol at this stage in the match wouldn't help much.

Great tie-break and Dimitrov has it.

I was almost hoping Jaziri would take it. Grigor was bigging up his chances against Rafa the other day- saying he's now 100% fit. Well, he will have to do better than that.