Tennis Thread:- The players are all on holiday, 2018 is coming to an end, but 2019 is around the corner and there will be lots to look forward to!

[Raahh]

Although I can't think about January yet...

I'm still in denial it's nearly December- which means ds will be 16 , and I will be 47 and another year will be over.

I was soooo wanted Heather to beat Serena that year.

And funny, in all the tributes to Murray, I don't recall seeing one from Serena. I think she likes the attention to be on her maybe she should retire, get her own 'obituary tribute' . Given all her bleating about women and sexism, you'd think she would pay tribute to a player who was such a supporter of women in the game.

• disclaimer I apologise if I missed her heartfelt teary tribute.

** nah, I don't care

kazza

And right back at you for your completely fair comments about Serena! Perhaps she's too busy being a mum today - did you know she'd had a baby girl?

Oh, I forgot she is the first woman in the world tennis player ever to have a baby.

How have we forgotten ? we haven't been allowed to forget

Beard is looking good.

Morning!

I've been checking the overnight scores. One stood out, the Nishikori match. Definitely a match of two halves, his Polish opponent retired in the 5th having been 2 sets up at one point.

Chickenato is currently involved in a bit of a topsy turvy match too. He just won the second set 6-0 And looked in danger of losing the 3rd by the same score!

Morning looking forward to Stans match this morning.
Ds wants to watch Djokovic, I cant see his opponent doing too well unfortunately.

I can't watch this morning but checking the results and noticed Ernests took the first set! Why do those two have to play each other at this stage?!

Private it's not fair, is it? Gulbis has been having a bit of resurgence of late, and it would be great to see him go further- but not at the expense of Stan!

And Gulbis has retired, according to my scores.

Looks like Gulbis had a problem with his back, Chicken is now 2 sets all in his match- a lot of up and down moments in that match.

I'm watching bits, in between ferrying various offspring to school . I need to leave to take dd2 in a minute and then I will probably miss a bit.

Tsonga looks like he's about to beat Klizan . I'm sure he will be delighted with that- Klizan is no slouch, and Jo Willy hasn't had the best year with his injuries.

He meets Djok next though...possibly.

What is going on, it looks like five retirements today, including both Stan and Foggy going through due to their opponents retiring.
Good win for Konta.
I luffs Jo Wilfred

That's beyond annoying for Gulbis - imagine travelling all the way to Australia, getting an awful first round draw, being up in the match and then having to retire?! Argh!!

Really hope JWT v Tsonga is a R2 match. That was the final in 2008! Jo has had some awful injuries. I saw a photo of him recently with arrows pointing to all the different injuries and treatment he's had in recent years, it was awful.

I love him as well kazza. He'd get loads of support v Djok.

Kokkinakis retired from his match as well - he qualified so that must be gutting for him. Maybe the heat? I know Keith's opponent had awful cramp

Yes Milos!

That's a shame about Ernests.

I've just got in, fully expecting the Raonic match to be on Eurosport 2- and it's bloody skiing. .

I don't want to watch Djok- and he's winning anyway.

And Chicken ultimately lost his match- he will not be happy, he seemed to be running away with it at one point. That does seem to feature in his game though, a bit of a loss of focus.

Private was that why the Nishikori match was so up and down?

I wouldn't be surprised if it's the heat.

The scoreline is looking good for Milos though, so far.

I'm at the Halep Kaneppi match. It's great.

oh dear- Halep has lost her first set- I hope she can turn it around. Losing to Kanepi for the second slam in a row won't help her mentally, at all.

x post Quan how is Halep looking?

ooh, the Milos match is back on the tv.

Not surprisingly- quite biased commentary already, in the first 30 seconds i have heard!