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)

He probably goes back to bed after his match

I had forgotten how much I dislike Djokovic during his long time in the wilderness.

Yet again I agree with TheOnly LivingBoy.

What a spoilt brat & how disgraceful to smash a racquet that must be worth £££.

Playing tennis is his job. Not many work places would countenance you smashing the tools of your trade.

So hope Goffin wins tomorrow.

I want Goffin to win too. Montfils has something of the melodramatic “footballer taking a dive” about him.

I see Zverev demanded his Yorkshire buddy asked the first question in his post-match press conference

Hoping I get to see Rafa play tmw - must check to see if a Brit is also playing!

I agree with Djokovic being a spoilt brat - it then really grates when he tries to get the crowd on his side and does the weird heart thing at the end of his matches.

I think ultimately that’s why the crowds don’t really warm to him - it all seems to be a bit of an act.

I like Goffin anyway so I'm hoping he wins too. With all this support it's surely got to be in the bag 😂

Fabio/Kyle is a really interesting match up and I wish they didn't have to play each other so early in the tournament as I want them both to win.

it all seems to be a bit of an act.

This, absolutely. There seems to be so much emphasis on his being the practical joker of the tour, and the jogging with the ball boys, but then there are also the persistent rumours about the state of his marriage, and his sexism over the question of equal pay...When I watched him smashing his racquet yesterday, with such deliberate violence, I thought: if I were your wife, I would be quite frightened to cross you or upset you. It was a bit of an unsettling thought.

Annabel Croft was discussing the racquet smashing on Eurosport- she was not happy at all. It was the total disrespect for court that annoyed her most- it's one thing to do it at the side of the court, maybe hit a chair, or the floor outside the playing area. But he made a real mess of the court- which is carefully laid, and packed to play a certain way. They don't just chuck some clay down and leave them to it.

Heather Watson got a hefty fine for taking a chunk out of a court at Wimbledon the other year. I imagine the damage is even worse to a grass court.

Looking forward to Rafa/Gasquet - it would be a huge upset if Richard beat him , not least because he never has in 15 or so attempts (though I think he might have done when they grew up as juniors).

Foggy is wearing his super hero outfit I wonder if they are deliberately scheduling him early now?

I can't listen to McEnroe, so I'm going to give ITV a go and see how much they mess about with the schedule.

They’ve just shown Rafa on ITV4 on the practise court - he was wearing a sleeveless top - it was like the olden days! I thought his biceps had got smaller but they were very much in evidence.

Liking Foggy’s superhero outfit . Seems to be working so far against Kyle.

Rafa is looking good, yes . And Foggy seems to have his Worzel Gummidge 'I mean business' head on. At the moment, anyway .

Foggy definitely wins best outfit of the tournament.

I don't think I need to say who probably wins the worst.

I may have jinxed Foggy

Where's foggy disappeared to, seems he's temporarily forgotten how to play tennis.
His outfit reminds me of flash.....it's definitely different

I think Kyle’s got the super hero powers in this set

Think foggy is back...

Yes, looks like Foggy has returned from his walkabout

Personally, I hope Foggy comes back strong in the 3rd set. I'm rather cynical about the timing of the injury timeout.

As the commentators are also suggesting.

He was fine at 5-1 up.

Aww, Zopp is losing. He has my new favourite names, though. But great tournament for Marterer.

I hope Pliskova beats Shrieky.

Think they are both guilty here, as the commentators are saying fogninis ankle has just made a sudden recovery.

Was pleased khachanov beat pouille,

Somebody get Foggy an espresso.

lady I'm glad Pouille lost too- isn't it funny how, for no real reason, you just don't warm to players? I mean some players I have very definite reasons for not liking them But others, I just find them underwhelming.

Really annoying that I can't watch the Foggy Kyle match live. From the score it looks exciting. Hopefully there will be decent highlights somewhere.

Fabrice is coaching Gasquet these days. Maybe that could be enough to break his duck but I hope not today .

It means we are now stuck with Petchey commentating.

I'm not sure what will happen if this match carries on- since Rafa/Richard are due on about 1.30pm. Who will ITV show?