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)

Wow the thunder is so loud. I think Inverdale is scared!

Rafa on not before 12.00 tomorrow according to order of play. Yes it does mean that he won’t get a rest day (assuming he gets through). Djokovic will be having a nice rest.

Mahut v del potro could be a good one to watch - was thinking about mahut and isners marathon match at Wimbledon earlier today. Tim henman presented them with a glass vase on court when they (especially mahut) just wanted to collapse in the changing room.

Can't tell you how cross I was & how foul my language was when they showed Heather instead of the Rafa match. FFS.

Was very happy to see Garcia-Lopez beat Stan. Don't like Stan, he was pretty vile to his wife & he has a porcine nose!

Looking forward to seeing Rafa tomorrow & Shapovalov.

Did anyone see Tsitsipas play? Keep on hearing good things about him but have yet to see him.

Aww, I like Stan
I was pretty sweary too- stupid ITV.

Tsitsipas seems to be pretty good on clay , and seems like a nice bloke.

Aww poor sexy Stan I didn't even get to see him.

I wish the BBC would cover RG.

I'm just grateful the Beeb still cover Wimbledon, Jane.

Tbh, I've usually found the ITV coverage o.k. Even the ads don't bother me. (And I did discover that I was watching ITV4 +1, at one point, which may have explained why I was out of sync a bit). But it doesn't explain showing matches that had already finished. Or taking off the defending champion and world number 1 just because a Brit was playing. They wouldn't have done it to Roger, I'll bet.

I'm with magi, I'm not a Stan fan, for the same reasons!

Didn't get to see any tennis today but have caught up with the results.

Have only just realised that I'll miss the second week as we are going on holiday. Pah. I suppose at least it means I'll be around for Wimbledon.

Hope Rafa gets off to a flying start tomorrow.

I'm glad to see Marion Bortoli looking so well now.

Can't watch this morning- but hoping to be able to catch up with Rafa.

Paris is looking a bit gloomy though- so not sure whether there will be further rain delays.

I've just been looking at the order of play, and Jack Sock (one of my favourite named players) is playing Jurgen Zopp. Now , that's a fabulous name. Sounds like a Flash Gordon villain.

Good luck with the car Raahh

Rain! I think we've got the French weather by mistake.

thanks amiga, it was taken this morning , and I haven't heard anything yet.

It's quite warm again here, and we haven't had the storms they've had elsewhere- I'm in Manchester.

I am sooooo tired though. I could just nod off.

Phew! Car passed , only needed a wind screen wiper. (I pay a mechanic to take the car for me, costs me a bit extra on top of the M.O.T, but is well worth avoiding the stress, as he makes sure everything is sorted. I hate garages. And in the 10 years he's been doing it, I've never failed ).

I am miffed at the rain. I don't want to do anything productive. I had just planned to sit here and watch tennis.

I want to watch tennis!

Having to do housework instead but hopefully will get to see some later if the rain stops.

Jurgen Zopp is a great name Raahh. Hope all goes well with the car.

I saw that Cilic was playing someone called J Duckworth - I was hoping it was Jack but it’s James

Urgh rain, we have a huge storm here (south east) so nothing to do either.

Jack Duckworth

I took the dog for a quick lunch time run around the park- not that he was keen to run.

This will not be good for the schedule. Del Po isn't due on until late

Tiebreak in the third set for Rafa - Bolelli still playing well. Need the sun to come out for Rafa.

I am not enjoying this match. Tie breaks are never fun.

I’m not enjoying it much either Raahh - Rafa was being very specific about the placing of his water bottles at the change of ends - not sure if that’s a good sign for him or not.

I know it's only one set, and he can win the next one, but I'm getting nervous.

But maybe Rafa needs the pressure of having not lost a set last year, taking away? iyswim.

phew!

Thank goodness for that!

Bolelli played well though.

Yes thank goodness for that. Might have a little break now and hopefully get to see some of del potro/mahut later - rain and scheduling permitting

Well, I cut the grass in the back garden (it's not huge) but I'm too hot, and I feel sick, and really don't want to do the front (which is bigger and always takes longer).

McEnroe is discussing Serena's recent baby's birth at great length. he seems a little over invested.