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.

Boulter/Sabalenka on the other side

I got confused when I saw the Boulter match- since I know who won!

I've just been score checking so I know the result now. Can't listen to any more of Sabalenka's groaning anyway

Not only have I been at work but have been in very boring computer training all morning .

Just caught up on all your comments - sounds as if it was a fairly straightforward win for Rafa - I need to see him - might try and catch the highlights later.

I just took the dog out for a very wet quick walk , since forcing him out into the rainy garden was not getting the desired result. .

He is running round the house like a nutter now, trying to get dry

Oh Fizzy that's no fun. You'll have to try and watch the highlights. It was a pretty routine win for Rafa, but some nice rallies/shots by both.

Hope the dog has dried off now Raahh - and you too! It's horrible weather here as well - and snow is forecast for Friday

Snow! I know.

Yet there were daffs coming through in the park the other day

It's crazy Raahh! We'll have to start acclimatising to the cold!

The schedule for tomorrow is out (apols if this is old news). Stan v Milos is the second match, ie some ungodly hour here, might stay up for it anyway though. Djok v JWT is the night match, 7am-ish here.

Zverev v Chardy tomorrow morning as well. That could be an interesting one.

I'm miffed the Milos/Stan match is over night. I will have it recorded, but I hardly ever watch the matches I record when I know the score.

It would be brilliant if Jo-Willy could spring and upset.

Sascha needs to win the next 2 matches, then he goes ahead of Federer in the rankings- even if Fed wins the tournament.

Yes an upset would be brilliant! I'm definitely here for the JWT comeback tour

Interested re Berdych too - am not really a fan of his tbh, but really interested to see how he does here. I think he plays Verdasco next.

Berdych is one if those players who has just always been there. Padding out the top 10/20.
I know he must have had some good results to get there, but I don't find him interesting to watch.

he's meant to be lovely, though and very funny on social media, apparently.

No I don't either. I've seen the bugger play at Wimbledon, twice! The first year was fine, but the second year I was like "You again?!" So annoying. He was coached by Goran coached for a while so there's that in his favour, I suppose .

I'm just interested in how he, JWT, and even Milos, Keith etc will do this year. I think they'll slot in where Isner etc left off. I hope so anyway.

I like Berdych but I always think of Kim Sears when I see his love for sports cars and fancy watches! He's had bad luck at Wimbledon including meeting Rafa in his only final

Yes! And then remember when she wore that "Parental Advisory" t shirt afterwards?! That was quite funny.

I remember being convinced he'd beat Rafa in that Wimbledon final (I was 9months pg at the time so possibly not thinking straight ) but then he was soundly beaten...

The nerves really got to him. If he'd been playing anyone but Rafa I'd have liked him to win especially as he'd beaten Roger to get there.

Berdych has always seemed to be just a bit boring to me, can't get excited either way

No he doesn't have the most dynamic playing style does he?!

Berdych plays Schwartzmann next, not Verdasco. Verdasco plays Cilic. Sorry for the fake news

If Djok and Shaggy both win their next matches, they'll play each other in R3 magi will be very conflicted over who she wants to win that one

Now, Diddy Diego, I really like. I hope he does well. He also has a dog. Called 'small' or something in Spanish. .

I'll forgive him for taking a set off Rafa at RG .

Verdasco playing Cilic is a bit of a conflict, as I like both- but I do want Cilic to progress.

Argghh!

diddy Diego
Yes I think I want him to win that one. He's had a couple of tough matches though so far. Also Raahh I noticed on twitter etc the Argentinians call him El Peque so I looked it up :

Schwartzman's nickname is El Peque (an abbreviation of the word "pequeño", meaning "Shorty" in Spanish

It is shorty It's also what he calls his dog , I think . I do like him, he is quite good(mainly on clay).

I also read he had a poster of Rafa on his wall.

V cute about the poster. Now, I wonder if he can beat the Berd?!

Actually- IiRC, it's not a poster, it's a signed shirt.

He's a big Rafa fan