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)

I'm ok thanks Raahh was just one of those days, but next week will be better because there's tennis
I'm not a berdych fan either I remember seeing him play a few years ago and it was boring! I just can't warm to his style of play, a bit like Murray who I've also never warmed to, I kinda want to like their game but just don't.
I've just followed Rafa on Instagram, lots of lovely pictures of there :)

I'm being haunted by Shakira!
Today, it was 'Hips don't lie' (anthem of injured tennis players everywhere) on the radio.

Sadly, the video to that doesn't feature Rafa, but it was number 1 in the charts the week dd1 was born .

I have various Rafa related things on Facebook (sad) - that way I can can stalk him when he's out injured .

Nothing like a bit of social media stalking 😂

Just seen that Rafa has drawn Dolgopolov in the first round of RG - bet he was hoping for an easier first round.

Hi fizzy Yep bet he was hoping he would get an easier start, plus I like watching dogs though obviously don't want him to win now. Edmund has a tricky draw too.
Other bigs names seem to have qualifiers first round I think......
Was pleased for Norrie that he beat Isner today

Yes lady just seen Kyle Edmunds draw - if he gets that far should be some interesting matches - possibly foggy, Cilic and del Potro.

Borrow beat Isner? Oh well done!
Haven't seen the draw but I like the Dog too. I don't think he has anything to trouble Rafa though.
Who's Foggy got?

I thought Dogs would be a problem the other week, but I don't think over 5 sets he will be a match for Rafa.

I give the commentators 30 seconds before they mention Queen's 2015, though...

Norrie is proving to be pretty good on clay - he played well during the Davis cup tie, and he's barely played on the surface before.

Rafa keeps getting rough looking draws. It just makes me nervous .

Thiem, Stan and Djok are all in the other half of the draw, with Zverev as second seed, I see.

Who'd have thought that would be the case, this time last year? I'm not convinced Sascha will live up to the number 2 seeding though.

How did that come out as Borrow

Gosh that's a loaded bottom half then.
Who's the competition for Rafa in his half?

Delpo is in Rafa's half, and so are Isner, Cilic, Anderson... But I don't see any of them beating Rafa. Do any of you? I just think he's unbeatable at RG. He has too much aura.

This is Rafa'a possible route to the final

R1: Dolgopolov
R2: Sousa/Pella
R3: Gasquet
R4: Shapovalov/Sock
QF: Schwartzman/Anderson
SF: Cilic/Del Potro
F: Zverev/Thiem/Dimitrov/Djokovic/Nishikori

Shapovalov has had a good season, but like others - it's the 5 set format that might be his undoing.

I would love to see Del Po get as far as the SF , but I'm not that sure he will. Cilic isn't really a clay specialist either.

Gasquet might be a tricky one. It's unlikely that he will beat Rafa- he never has in all their meetings, and they've practically grown up on the circuit together. But he has the home crowd advantage and Richard has had some good results at RG in the past.

Private even though on paper it seems like he is unbeatable, I still get so nervous when he plays!

Of course any of the potential finalists are capable of beating him- but they have to get to the final in the first place.

True Raahh. I just don't see it either. I mean, you never know - Rafa could just have a bad day and someone else could be absolutely on fire and just cause a massive upset. But with 5 sets, on clay... I just don't see it happening. Which is fine but I wouldn't mind a bit of unpredictability!

Am picking Svitolina for the women's. She's been looking excellent.

I'll be very happy with Rafa winning 7 matches, in straight sets in emphatic fashion. Which would be dull for non Nadal fans, --and I don't care-.
I don't need any drama at the moment- my nerves can't take it. .

I really want Halep to do well at RG. I feel for her, every time she falls at the final hurdle. And the the Australian open final- even though I was glad to see Wozniaki win something, shouldn't have been allowed to continue in that heat. They were quick to make to sure the men Roger didn't have to .

I agree Svitolina is having a good season, though.

So would I Raahh, I really like Simona, she is a cracking player... I just have a feeling she won't but I hope I'm wrong!

I know what you mean about Rafa. I do love him but I wouldn't mind seeing a bit of competition, even if the end result is the same!

Poor Simona- she just seems to lose it at the wrong moments.

I'd also like to see Garbine Muguruza do well again - I really like her. She can be a bit in consistent though.

And Kvitova has been quietly winning things lately, and making up for lost time. It would be great for her to have a good run at RG, though Wimbledon might be a better bet.

I am really looking forward to RG starting.

I'm sure no-one can tell

Me too! It's my least favourite Slam - but I still love it!

I'm with you Raahh a nice easy route to the title with no tight matches or dropped sets would be perfect! Rafas route on paper looks ok, but plenty of room for an upset. Gasquet can sometimes cause a problem at RG, and either Del Potro or Cilic would be a tough semi final.
I'd like to see zverev do well, not too well of course but would be nice for him to prove himself over a couple of 5 set matches, lots of people saying he doesn't have the mental stamina over 5 sets, would be good for him to dispel that ahead of Wimbledon and the US.
I love the first week of a GS when there's tennis on all day and hopefully lots of great matches being played

RG is really up there with Wimbledon for me. And it's the start of about 6 weeks of being able to watch stuff . My least favourite is the US Open- the crowds are rude and noisy, and seem to spend more time wandering about eating and drinking than watching the matches. It really gets on my nerves. I've noticed it has got a lot worse over the last couple of years I've watched.

It seemed to be going the same way in Australia this year -a lot of spectators thinking it was fine to get back to their seats late, and disrupt play.

Maybe I'm just a misery- but I like to watch matches where the atmosphere is nice and calm, and showing respect for the players. I'm not even that big a fan of Davis Cup- but at least the noise is expected there.

My order is:
Wimbledon
Aus
US
French
I think with the French, my favourite players have never traditionally done well there, and so I was never that interested. And then there were a lot of random one-off champions... It just never really appealed, that grinding-it-out clay style. Plus I find the orange clay hard on the eye to watch, colour-wise - especially if it's sunny, I can barely see the ball. Ha maybe I am just old. Give me some nice green grass courts and attacking varied play any day!

PS I completely agree about the crowds though!