Tennis Thread..The US OPEN final approaches...

[Raahh]

New thread before the Rafa/Delpo thread starts...

*missed

Novak is grumbling about something or other...

Gutted about Rafa retiring but once again Del Potro gives a masterclass in how to be an exceptional human - letting Nadal leave the court to an ovation which he joined. I do love the humanity of that man, so am pleased he’s through to the final given that Rafa couldn’t be.

REALLY want him to beat Djok!

TheOnly Rafa and Delpo are both class acts, from the way Rafa was when Ferrer retired, to how Juan reacted when Rafa did.

I knew it was going to be a tough match, and Rafa would need to raise his game as Juan has been better this tournament, overall, but it's not how I wanted it to end for Rafa.

Now , I've got everything crossed that Delpo can win on Sunday. I think he might have the crowd behind him.

Private Keith

I too hope that Delpo wins on Sunday - it would be so nice to see him win the us open again after so many years - he said he was just a kid when he last won it.

I agree that both players are class acts in the genuine respect they show for other players.

Rafas post match interview was so sad - I hope that there’s no long term damage to his knee.

Sadly no tennis related dreams last night . I don’t feel as if I’ve had enough sleep and got a bit of a busy day today - need to get up.

Yes he’s definitely Keith Nishikori from now on

GO Delpo - he really is the nicest man & I so want him to beat Djok.

I fell asleep halfway through the Djokovic match. Keith was playing well, there were loads of good rallies from what I saw, but it obviously wasn't enough!

I so agree with the love for both Delpo and Rafa. I was thinking earlier about that time at the French Open when Almagro had to retire with injury when he was playing Delpo... And Delpo crossed the net and sat next to him in the chair and he told him to think of his family and his new baby, and the other important things in life etc. Argh I'm welling up now!! why does Roger keep winning that sportsmanship award again?!

I suppose for Delpo because of all his injuries and being at rock bottom basically, he's got a lot of compassion for people in those situations.

It was so sad to see Rafa retire last night, and I hope he is ok (Davis Cup in 2 weeks?! The schedule is relentless, no wonder there are so many injuries). But it's so sweet for Delpo to be back in the final, like he's come full circle really after everything that's happened to him. Fizzy it was so sweet when he said he was just a kid in 2009. I'm already nervous for tomorrow!!

I guess the phrase I'm looking for is very good human person

Good human person

Can't say fairer than that.

Poor Keith

It's going to be an exciting final.

Could only manage to see a few games before Rafa retired. Sad it had to end that way but wishing Delpo can win in the final, it would be so lovely.

Ive just been watching some of the highlights, poor Keith really couldn't do much.
Really need Delpo to win tomorrow, hope he doesn't suffer for having gone through to the final that way.

I said to my children that being a very good human person is really all you can aspire to

Mama it is

It reminds me of the Aussie Open final in 2014 that Rafa lost to Stan- it affected both of them, in different ways. Stan was aware he beat an injured player, but the same time, he had played brilliantly in the tournament. Rafa , at the same time, should have won- had he not been injured. It was the beginning of a bit of a mental slump.

Delpo needs to remember it's not that long ago Djok was a bit vulnerable himself.

Yes, Delpo has been playing well. He deserves to be in the final from that point of view. Who knows whether he would have beaten a fully fit Rafa but he would have had a decent chance, I think. As you say Raahh he has to not take that into the final, but believe that he deserves to be there - which I think he does.

DelPo, if you need any sports psychology, just consult this thread

It seems ages until tomorrow night!! I guess I will watch the women's tonight.

Also Jamie Murray is in the mixed final I think? Not sure when it's on though.

It does seem ages until tomorrow night- and I will probably end up falling asleep again (I know last year I woke up in the early hours with the tv blaring- it's no good when you have to get up early, is it?).

No Raahh, it really isn't. The late nights are definitely starting to catch up with me now!

I don't know who I want to win in the women's. I like Osaka. But I would also like to see Margaret Court's record broken. I mean, surely Serena Williams do it eventually. But now would be as good a time as any.

Serena will do it eventually, that should say. My phone is getting too good at predicting tennis related phrases

Rafa is out of the DC semi final

And - so it's being reported on twitter - he probably won't play Beijing or Shanghai either.

Djokovic could get end of year No1 here.

Sorry for all the posts, this is my last one for now, promise.

When I was on twitter I was reading some tweets from an Argentinian journalist and I don't know any Spanish so I was tapping the translate button. Anyway it kept saying "the colt" for Del Potro, which I thought was weird, so I googled it and found that potro means colt in Spanish.

So does this mean Delpo's name in English is John Colt?!?!