Tennis Thread: Australian Open 2019 & onwards..........

[magimedi]

Hope it's OK for me to start a new thread - could not believe we'd burned out on the last one.

Am looking forward to seeing highlights of the Fed/Tits match later.

Yes it’s been a sad end to a really good tournament. Nice speech from Rafa.

Ivan is being quite smiley! Yes what exact time is it that Delpo will be making his comeback

I believe it's 8.20 on February 19th Fizzy

The trophy is very chamber pot in design

Oh, yes Jane , a very specific comeback time

Thanks Jane - I’ll put it in my diary!

Novak’s getting a bit deep in his speech.

Soppy speech

We keep cross-posting Fizzy

Yes jane

I am defnitely going for a shower now.

And then I might iron.

Or walk the dog- and moan at him about how unfair the tennis result was

I have to prepare myself for DH coming home and taking the piss because Rafa lost!

I’m going for a shower now too! I’ve just had an argument with DH and DS1 who told me that i need to appreciate how good Djokovic is - no I don’t!

It’s quite sunny here but very windy - might need to get some fresh air.

I’m sure the dog will understand Raahh - maybe I need a dog

Jane so our husbands are similar too? Mine did make me breakfast though

Hi all. I had to switch off - haven't done that for a long time!! I just couldn't watch any more, it was painful. Poor Rafa.

I enjoyed catching up on your posts. Really agree such a flat way for the tournament to end. Djok just sucks the life out of players like a Dementor it was like what he did against Delpo in NY. They can't make anything happen against him, there's no pace, nothing. He just absorbs it all. It's a skill in itself blah blah but not one that's fun to watch.

Btw. I don't think anyone should wear orange to play Djok in a final ever again - it must be bad luck!!

So Djok has now won the last 3 Slams At least Paris is the next one!

Now I'm just waiting for 19 Feb!! 8.20pm! Be there or be square

Private he is a dementor
It was very like the US open- and the Wimbledon final.
I suspected Djok would win- but was hoping for more of what we saw when they played the Wimbledon semi.

But, nothing seemed to be in Rafa's favour, the weather, the court conditions.

Anyway- after limping away from the tournament last year, it's an improvement. But I so wanted him to beat Djok.

Tomorrow, I will have to do things .

Or just catch up on watching things I haven't watched, whilst watching the tennis.

Ugh I know!! I hate the end of a Slam (even when they end annoyingly, like that). Indian Wells doesn't even start until 4 March!!

Rafa said he will play in Acapulco first though.

I just watched his speech. Very heartfelt.

Someone wrote on twitter that hard courts make Djok better and diminish Rafa's strengths, at the same time (paraphrasing). I think that's true .

But Rafa has done brilliantly to get to the final after not playing at all since the USO.

I know - tomorrow will be the real Blue Monday.

In fairness, the surface is not one that suits Rafa- and very much favours players like Djok or Federer. Plus, the fact the temperature had dropped, also made a difference.

It's to his credit, he can change his game and adapt- even at 32.
At least, when we get to the clay season, if Rafa can hold onto the number 2 spot, they can only meet in finals. And Rafa on clay is a different beast. (I cling to that!).

He missed Acapulco last year, so I'm glad he is going to play there again.

Though of course, Delpo was able to win it in his absence

That's the tournament where they have to wear a Mariachi hat for the trophy presentation?!

I think so- and the trophy looks like a big pear?

yes!! And why not, I suppose?!

I hate to say it but Djok made Rafa look ordinary. If Djok carries on like this I might give up watching tennis.

(Am v grumpy & still feeling like shite with vile chest infection.)

It was just a very strange match - I was hoping and expecting a much better and closer match. Maybe Djokovic is a Dementor - sucking the joy out of everything.

I’ve been out for a walk and went to a pub where I ended up chatting to a lady about the tennis (she must have spotted me as a secret tennis fan - not sure what signals I was sending out) - she was looking forward to watching the highlights on bbc - I didn’t have the heart to tell her not to bother.

Rafa’s speech was fairly positive and he did make the final after not really playing since the us open so that’s all positive. Bring on the clay court season (although Acapulco does sound like fun - I like the sound of the trophy and the hat )

Hope you feel better soon magi

I know what you mean about Djok. I quite like him in some ways (when he's not playing anyone I care about ) but I can't be doing with him dominating tennis again. Yawn.

Don't give up watching though magi! Everyone is saying how brilliant he was etc. But even since his "comeback" he's lost to Khachanov, Zverev, Tsitsipas etc. I really wonder if there was something up with Rafa today, even if he hasn't said so. I can't believe he'd come out and play like that otherwise.

Or maybe it was just voodoo as Jane suggested?!