Tennis Thread- It's the US OPEN already, we're prepared for late nights, (and Amazon Prime is making us cross already)

[Raahh]

I can't believe it's nearly September, really. I'm sure the Australian open has just finished.

I'm going to spend the morning labelling school uniform . I really am.

I probably won't

I needed an early night tonight.

Ahh well. Stan has a late match too-I'm a bit torn, because he's playing Raonic, and I really would like to see Milos make a comeback.

Haha Grouchy, funnily enough it's a recording of Masterchef Australia I'm currently watching on TV

Ooh, Rafa has a 'mini break' in the tie-break. Vamos!!

Incredible standard in this tie break

Vamos! It's torturous watching tie break scores!

Wow, that final point was something else.

Far too close this match.

But if he comes through, it will be a win. And a win is a win.

But it's a fight.

That was an impressive. The whole tie break was.

Yes amazing tennis Majestic my nerves are in shreds.

If Rafa does go through I’m happy for all his other matches to be played in the middle of the night

Karen is playing very well though and really making Rafa raise his game.

Fizzy yes, I'm starting to think watching him is overrated

I think it's because, I watch him at clay tournaments, at RG, and he can have a wobble. But part of me is fairly sure he will come through.

Wimbledon was a bit of return to old form on grass- the Delpo match, the Djok match two of the best, of anyone, ever.

But on hardcourts, or indoors, my confidence wavers a lot more.

(I know he lost the Djok match, bit he still played great).

Rafa has an early break in the fourth.

I am loving the return to the sleeveless look

He needs to back up the breaks , Drama which is the thing that he keeps struggling to do.

I wish he had a more reliable serve, I say it all the time. I don't mean aces. If aces were the measure of success, Karlovic would be a multi slam winner, - I just want more reliable.

I'm watching Shaggy - it's in a fifth set but Anderson has the break.

It's on Louis Armstrong court, with its ridiculously high camera angle.

Shaggy has his lucky cuddly wolf toy at courtside

I agree Raahh, it always makes me nervous watching him. There's so much slice on his serves with that extreme grip he has that it's difficult to get the sheer power that some other players have.

Anderson just got a time violation warning. I mean - it's 3-2, deuce in the 5th set, they are getting into long rallies - give him a break.

Ugh- Shaggy was robbed! He hit a great shot right on the line - he had a break point on Anderson's serve. But it was called out then overruled - they replayed the point and Anderson won it. He's just held serve, saves 3 or 4 break points. Crowd are going wild for Denis!!

The shaggy/Anderson match looks like a good one Private - I saw something about a wolf but need more information.

Hoping that Rafa can win this game and the match - it’s all a bit too close to comfort for me (and I want to go to bed now)

Private the lack of common sense with the time violations is my biggest bugbears. Of all the things that are wrong with the sport- taking a few seconds over, really doesn't bother me (as a spectator) nearly as much as it seems to bother the commentators who get so vocal in favour of the shot clock.

I know Djok bounces the ball too much, Rafa faffs a bit etc- but I find the antics of players like Kyrgios far more detrimental.

Shaggy has hit 52 winners in this match!!

I read something about the wolf as well *Fizzy - because he thinks he is like a wolf when he plays or something?!

I'm assuming the wolf has a Canadian connection, but I'm not sure.

FFS Rafa- don't blow it now!

I wish they had a clock for the spectators instead and if they're not in their seats on time they get evicted!

Totally agree Raahh about the shot clock - it's neither here nor there. They always seem to want to "fix" things that aren't actually an issue.

Oh flip! Karen broke back. 5-5 now.

The wolf's name is Storm btw

Jane now that would make sense...