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)

Watching zverev highlights, he looked very confident and smiley-lovely to see someone clearly enjoy playing that much. Potentially a tougher round next though.

Stan's heart must have sunk when he saw the draw - Garcia-Lopez being the one who beat him the first round in 2014. Stan is a different player now though- and not carrying the baggage of having just won his first slam. But he's still not 100%.

Zverev's route from here on has a lot of potential threats- I think yesterday will be a bit of a warm up - same for Grigor, really.

Felt a bit sorry for Haase, having been 2 sets up against Goffin, but he really let his emotions (and the perceived issues with the light) get to him, and just gave up I think).

Zverev is very smiley- perhaps another reason he might not be such a good fit with Lendl after all .

That's why I like watching Zverev. You can see how much he's enjoying it - apart from the racquet smashing- which I also enjoy I hope Lendl won't dampen his spirits (he does mine).

Oh, I actually rather liked Lendl, he was always great to watch.

It was also the era of very short tight shorts. Lendl's shorts were always a talking point in our house .

I preferred Mac in the short shorts. Lindl was always spitting too, yuck.

I liked lendl - I think he is funnier than he seems - apparently he has a very dry sense of humour but I can see why people aren’t so keen.

I just wish that he’d won Wimbledon - he was a great player but don’t think he’ll be remembered as such a great player because he didn’t manage to win Wimbledon.

I did actually fancy him back in the day - I liked his cheekbones but he seems to have filled out a bit these days

Looking forward to some good matches today.

I still wish Ivan had beaten Cash at Wimbledon '87. I've never much liked Pat- and that stupid climbing up the players' box stunt got on my nerves.

I have to go out later so I'll probably miss Rafa.

Nice to see Sam Smith.

I’ve never been a pat cash fan - his commentary is so dull - he just witters on about when he used to play.

He’s even boring in print!

The climbing into the players box thing was very annoying. I felt really sorry for lendl having to sit in his chair watching that. Another grudge that I’ve held for many years

Will be interesting to see how Djokovic plays today.

Trungelliti brought his nan in his car

Yes I saw that Jane very sweet - hope the 9 hour drive hasn’t tired him out too much

Stan has called a medical time out, and is 2-4 down.

They have just said that Cameron Norrie may be out playing soon- he already is! Won his first set 6-1. Who employs these people??

Norrie has just gone through, his opponent retired.

FFS- is there a reason ITV are showing the Norrie match that has already finished? Or is it in the absence of Murray, they need to find other Brits to show? I want to see the actual matches that are playing- especially as this match doesn't even go the distance.

I've been forced to watch Eurosport. And the commentary over there annoys me just as much.

Nice to see Stan looking as rumpled as ever, better colours though I think
Need some consistency here though.

I think a fifth set might be a stretch for Stan- his knee seems iffy, and Garcia- Lopez is making the most of it.

if Stan loses this match, having been a finalist last year, he will drop to 256 or so in the rankings (as of today).

Oh dear.

It was always a big ask- Stan is not in top form. And it opens the bottom half of the draw, even though I don't really think Stan was a contender, with his injuries.

Poor Stan... his movement definitely wasn't good that 5th set but all credit to Garcia-Lopez he looks out midway through the fourth and pulled it back.

Novak looks like he's about to go 2 sets up

I can't believe that ITV are only just starting to show the Djok match- at this rate they probably won't show the Rafa match!

Garcia-Lopez played very well- he's not a bad player and he kept his head through out.

I am really by ITV4's scheduling.

So, I will have to stick with Eurosport.

Thiem has started easily enough.
And Tsitsipas has won -he looks like he is going to be one to watch , in the coming months. (He's been good on clay, will see how he gets on on grass).

I agree the ITV schedule is just weird

Djok seemed to be trying to gee up the crowds before. I'm wondering if they would like to see an upset I know I was complaining about the spectators elsewhere being too noisy, but this lot seem half asleep never happy. Must be hard for him, knowing full well the 'main event' is coming later.

He is playing o.k--but seems a bit lack lustre, I think he just wants to get through the first match.