TENNIS THREAD - The clay season is in full swing, and it's onwards to Roland Garros!

[Raahh]

Shiny new thread.

Hopefully we will see some players return from injury in the next few weeks.

Munich/Istanbul in play this week amongst other tournaments.

Madrid week beginning the 7th (hopefully with Delpo playing)

The best match ever, I mean! I think it did irreparable damage to my adrenals though

Wimbledon 2008 final is my favourite ever match too. I still have the video recording I did of it - don't have a VCR to play it on though, but I can't bear to throw it away!

Welcome threebats

Drama maybe videos will make a comeback like vinyl.

Afternoon all.

I'm still in recovery mode and feeling really tired.
I agree the 2008 final was amazing. Nerve wracking, but an absolutely classic final.

A few players in action this week - Thiem in Lyon, Stan with a wild card in Geneva.

Hi all - I didn't see yesterday's final - sounds like a good comeback from Rafa. I'm looking forward to RG, normally my least favourite Slam but I think it'll be a good one this year. Delpo still hasn't said if he'll play has he? I think he should skip it and get ready for grass...

Loved the 2008 Wimbledon final. A total classic! But my favourite final ever is when Goran won in 2001. am old

Hope you're feeling better Raahh. I get migraines too, and I hate that hangover feeling - I sympathise

Will be interesting to see how Stan gets on this week...

I loved the 2001 final too, because I really wanted Goran to win.

But before that my favourite finals were the Edberg/Becker ones - 1988 was the first year it went over to the Monday. I'd just finished my GCSE's , so I'd been able to watch the whole thing. I had had a massive crush on Stefan since he was a junior .. I had seen him play at a local tournament a couple of weeks before Wimbledon, so I was thrilled when he won.

I was was very upset when he lost the following year. And it was a bagel in the first set, irrc.

It was a relief when he won in 1990- though I remember the scoreline was very close in the end.

I missed Stefan when he retired. And he should have married me

Raahh I think we must be about the same age because I remember that Edberg/Becker Monday finish too - I rang my dad from a phone box (!) on the way home from school to check the score and it had already finished! I was gutted!

Becker/Edberg was a great rivalry, I loved them both. Goran is my all time favourite though, but it's a shame Rafter never won Wimbledon - he was a great grass-court player. Ah, memories! Still, we've got it pretty good with the current crop as well

(I'm 46 )

I was very fond of Rafter - with his little blonde lump in his hair - I was willing him to beat Sampras the following year when he met him in the final. That one went on really late, didn't it, because of rain delays?

Yes I found Sampras quite boring - there was no need for him to win so many Wimbledons! Wish Rafter had beaten him. I know Goran had a similar style to Sampras but he was a bit more unpredictable and fun to watch.

I loved the Goran final as well - I was so happy when he won but I seem to remember having a dentist appointment about half way through the match - not good.

Not sure that videos will make the same sort of comeback as vinyl Jane

I was never really an edberg fan - I did like lendl though.

Yay fizzy it was great that Goran finally won wasn't it?! Can't believe the dentist appointment though, I hate when real life interrupts the tennis!
I wasn't too keen on Lendl though, probably because of his rivalry with Becker, who I loved.

Yes Parkin rivalry between players is the main reason for me not liking certain players - I’ve still not forgiven Henri Leconte for beating Lendl at Wimbledon one year!

I know everyone loves him but I still grimace when he turns up on telly - I know how to hold a grudge!

Haha I love the grudge-holding!! I was the same about Tim Henman, although I've nothing against him now, I still feel a bit grudge-y when I see him!!

Trying to think who Tim Henman might have beaten for you to hold a grudge against him!

To be fair Fizzy, it was more the way the media used to go on and on about him rather than anyone he beat in particular. I was so nervous during his semi-final against Goran, I still remember it now! I quite like him now though, he seems quite a decent guy.

Oh- that semi final with Goran went on for days, didn't it, because of rain delays? And I really wanted Goran to win- which no one I knew could understand. But then I've never been a 'support the Brit' tennis follower. Henman was ok, but he always reminded me of a bank manager rather than a sportsman.

We were allowed to drop lessons and watch the school TV if john Lloyd was playing at Wimbledon, it makes me feel feel all summery remembering it.

he always reminded me of a bank manager rather than a sportsman lol Raahh that's exactly how I feel as well! I've never supported players based on whether they're British or not either - although I do love Andy Murray, I don't think that's universal on here though?! And I like Kyle Edmund. But mostly it's about game style and personality for me, rather than being patriotic!

That's great you got out of lessons amiga! How good is that?!

Private I've never been a Murray fan, but off court I find him very funny. He irritates him on court. Kyle, I like. And I would like him ,British or not. I like how he doesn't give up.

It's definitely about about style and personality for me too - and my two all time favourites couldn't be more different , playing style wise (Stefan and Rafa) but they are both very much nice guys of the sport. It's why I like Del po too. He's liked by players and supporters alike, because he's just a nice bloke.

I'm not big on the patriotism thing. I just like who I like .

Wimbledon makes me feel summery in general. I love June/ July, long days etc and the thwack thwack of a tennis ball and an umpire calling out , thirty-forty. More British than a royal wedding!! [Smile]

And I love Rafa and Roger ( nearly as much) because of their contrast in styles and physique, massive levels of confidence
( though why wouldn't they be confident) and concentration. I'm a sucker for anyone who knows they are the best when they clearly are, arrogance matched with off court humility and politeness.

I don't know what I'll do when they retire....

amiga I'm dreading their retirement. I still can't really see anyone filling the gap- but then it's always hard to see it until it happens .

Having said that, Rafa, Roger (and to an extent Novak) are unique, and I don't really think we will see anything like them for a long time.

It's not just ability though, is it? it's the whole package. Novak has proved that- he's won everything - but he's still not as loved as Rafa and Roger.

Everytime they build someone up - it seems to take them forever to really fulfil the potential, or injury stops them dead. Del po could have been contender, I think. Dimitrov has taken a while to get where he is, but still can't quite make the step in slams, and he isn't consistent. Zverev might be the one to do it - if he can manage play over 5 sets the way he does over 3.

Yes I feel like that as well, but it seems as though they'll never retire! I think because there was that period a couple of years ago when they both looked as though they were on a downward slope, but then had a massive revival. They seem a bit invincible I don't think anyone will ever fill their shoes completely and it will be interesting to see who comes through. I hope Delpo can stay healthy as I think he could sneak a couple of Slams over the next couple of years - but he would surely have won more if he hadn't had such awful injuries.

I like all the players you mentioned Raahh. My other favourites are Richard Gasquet because I love a single-handed backhand, and his is beautiful to watch! I also love Stan and Tsonga and have a soft spot for Raonic. I have never really enjoyed Djokovic's style of play but I was surprised to find myself pleased that he played well against Rafa - probably because he's an underdog out there now!