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.

See- everytime I predict a tough match, its always the opposite!

Rafa does ply Dogs next, and he will have play better, something wasn't right last night. His serve wasn't as good as it has been either.

Not as bad as Venus, who couldn't get the ball over net at all - she double faulted 3 times in one game. Might even have been 4. Sam Smith was very shocked.

Didn't manage to stay up to watch all of the Rafa match so pleased that he went through - was dreading checking the scores this morning.

Agree Raahh that he needs to up his game to get past Dogs - his corner was looking very worried at certain points.

Hope that John McEnroe won't be commentating - not sure if I can cope with him mangling Rafa and Dogs names - he probably does do it on purpose - he's well known for mispronouncing towns and cities when he does his Wimbledon phone in on Radio 5. Leicestershire was an interesting one!

Oh, I hope we don't get Mac commentating again too! He was getting really annoying.
His pronunciation of Del pow trow is particularly irritating ( and Zeverev).

Shapavalov ( who no one can pronounce) lost the first set against Carrena Busta.CB had such a good year, no major results, but he's been quietly around in all the tournaments.

And I never realised before how much CB looks like a young Robbie Jackson from EastEnders. (Dean Gaffney).

I am delighted Sevastova beat Shrieky. Heard the commentators earlier discussing if it was right that she had been on the main court, Arthur Ashe, for all her matches, even though she is very low ranked a the moment, and higher ranked players haven't had the chance .

I think i boils down to the fact there are no scruples at the US Open, (whereas RG flatly refused to give her a wild card, and she didn't qualify for Wimbledon). and money/agents/tv matter more than whether a player should get preferential treatment after a drugs ban. So I'm glad she's out.

That is good news !

And Schwartzman is through. I am really getting very fond of him ( plus he beat Pouille who beat Rafa last year...)

Excellent start for Rafa ( though I can't watch yet, I'm at dd1's keeper training).

If he had lost the first set to Dogs, I think he would have been in trouble.

And he won. See, another time I expect a tough match, and it was an easy win!

For some reason I thought this match was on later - I've just sat down and seen that Rafa has won in straight sets - can't believe I missed it - doh! Can't get my head round the US Open scheduling. Oh well at least he's through.

Rublev is beating Goffin, 2 sets to 0. That will be a big scalp for him.

Coco Vandeweghe is a bit of a stroppy one. I hope Safarova wins .

Fizzy I got home in time to see Rafa's last 2 games.
i'm glad it was an easy match, if a little surprised. Hopefully he is finding his form.

I still can't believe I missed it - I've not seen a full match of his yet - his next match will probably be on in the middle of the night.

Annoyingly I was at home and doing boring things like laundry and tea so I could have watched it - oh well.

Yes Raahh hopefully he has hit his form now although you never know with Rafa

Fizzy you're right, you never know. And he plays Rublev next- i hope he beats him, or it will be a repeat of the Shapovalov loss the other week.

Delpo is up after the Bryans' doubles match. I want him to win (although he's playing Thiem), but it brings him closer to a possible match with Rafa (but he would have to beat Roger first). He beat both when he won his first US Open title. He could do it again. Maybe.

Oh I like Delpo and Thiem but don't think I'll be able to stay up for that one - would like to see Delpo go through - it would be nice to see him do well again (although maybe not at the expense of Rafa!)

Don't know much about Rublev - not really seen much tennis since Wimbledon.

The US Open is so different from Wimbledon! Very noisy and I imagine it smells of hotdogs

Fizzy smells of hotdogs

That's my impression too- although it's only this year that it's bothered me quite so much. It annoyed me last year- but seems to have got worse, and everyone is conscious of it because Sam Smith keeps joking about New Yorkers and their habits. I think it's rude.

oops, sorry Fizzy I did not mean to bold all that, and I'm sure you don't smell of hotdogs

I'm annoyed it's Frew commentating the Delpo match. I can't stand him.

hopefully I don't smell of hotdogs!

Rafa was rattled by the crowd on Saturday - I think it was worse because the roof was closed. I think it is rude - the crowd seem to see it as an event/day out rather than appreciating the tennis so they move around, chat and eat whatever they want - it wouldn't be allowed at Wimbledon!

Apparently the sound proofing with the roof, is not great And when i rains, it sounds really loud.

But it's the people who are the problem.

Delpo appears to have a problem, maybe with his eye, but something is wrong.

He is already 5-0 down

And 4-0 down in the second.

There's definitely something not right. Thiem is good, but Delpo, if fit has the game to at least push him. This is a bit worrying.

Rash I love Frew! Why don't you like him?

I only started watching in the middle of third set, what happened in the first two?

I saw most of the Carreno Busta match, I've never seen him before. He was very good and kept his cool when the crowd were very biased against him. Not sure if Shapo is quite as good as they're all saying... I mean, I know he's good but is he that good or is it like all the hype around Krygios when he first appeared (the tennis, not the Krygios attitude obviously). They seem to get swept up in all the hype, when I'd like a professional and realistic dissection of their abilities.

DelPo is on fire 🔥 🔥 but Thiem is fighting hard.

Yay Delpo went through - sounds like it was a brilliant match - damn that pesky time difference - I would have liked to have watched that one.

Federer also through although apparently he needed his bottom rubbing during the match

Had a quick look at Rublev - he's only a year older than my eldest DS - feel old! He has lots of hair.