TENNIS THREAD- we're nearly done with the red dirt, and looking forward to the green grass!

[Raahh]

yesterday's excitement I didn't realise how near the end of the thread we were!

Jim Courier is one of those people who makes you really nervous when you would be perfectly calm if you weren't listening to him!

Vamos!!

And he retains his titles, (swapping Rome for Madrid) retains the number 1 - it's been a massive season.

Phew! Thank goodness for that. Maybe I need to get a dog to hide behind

Jane

Fizzy he wasn't much help- he looked at me funny, and wandered off.

That's amazing really - I know it was expected that he'd win here, but 17 Slams?? Can't argue with that.

I think you’re right Jane.

Wow fantastic achievement for Rafa - the match was closer than the score line suggests. Just hope that it’s a temporary cramp thing for Rafa and nothing more serious.

I love his speeches.

Thiem played well, especially since he's only young anvin his first slam final. I feel like the result was never in doubt, but he still played well.

Aww I love him!

Lovely interview - very funny watching him start off in French and switch to English - it's almost like he didn't realise the first time, although he just appologised the second time.

Looks like it's just started to rain, too.

Ah Ken Rosewall - that's brill. Love those serve volleying Aussie greats.

I loved the way he was concentrating so intently on what he was being asked and looking like he was thinking how the hell am I going to answer that in French

I like it how the commentators translate Rafa’s French when even I, with my very basic grasp of French, can just about work out what he’s saying . Very sweet though.

What do you reckon the umpire will do with that souvenir tray?! Use it to serve snacks at home?! I think I would.

His wife will say not another bloody tray.

Rafa has looked so emotional this year every tom he wins that I wouldn't be surprised if he retired soon.

11 finals, 11 wins.

I can't see that happening again, really, Whatever anyone thinks of him, (and I love him, obviously,) you'd have to agree that is some statistic.

Dom is so lovely.

Great result, congrats to Rafa. I couldn't see the match but kept checking on the score while portering about sightseeing. Sadly no Eurosport in the hotel or I might have refused to go out this afternoon

not another bloody tray

Rafa does look emotional... understandable but... interesting

He hopes to see them next year. Phew...

Drama just as well really. It would be hard to go out when Rafa's playing.

He just did it again! I wonder if he knows any French adjectives except "incroyable" It seems like his "foreign language" default is English - he said "and" in the middle of that, but didn't seem to slip into Spanish at all.

Dom was very cute promising to improve his French for next year.

It would Jane. That's the last time I leave it to DH to organise our holiday

I think I just lost a post but the gist was that yes Rafa does seem very emotional - I can’t see him retiring yet though but who knows.

11 titles is an amazing achievement - can’t see that being matched any time soon, if ever.

Wonder if they’ll name the new court after him? Apparently the builders are coming in tomorrow - no messing about there then

Wish we'd had another set - or two! But well done to Rafa.

WTF am I going to do for the next week with no tennis? Might even have to talk to DH!!!

See you all at Queens - Raahh - will you start a new thread for grass?

I do love how civilised these tennis threads are - even if we don't all support the same players.