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.

You could have this to look forward to magi!

Or this

I love those pictures. A far nicer trophy than that awful vase thing. Cincinnati?

Get well soon magi. Don't give up!

I think because Rafa had performed so well- and played better than I've seen for years at times- then it seems so strange that today, he just seemed so deflated.

The way the commentators downplayed Djok's chances from the beginning of the tournament was odd too- since he had to be the favourite really.

Rafa wasn't match fit coming into it, and wasn't really tested until today. Even though I really expected him to be. He knew that. I just hope he bounces back- and this is more of a 2017 loss, than a 2014 loss, mentally.
I wonder about the taping on his abs- that's been there the whole time (I may have spotted it each time he changed his shirt ), and that might be a precaution from the previous strain he had.

Found it odd that it wasn't live on the BBC this year actually. It usually is.

Yes the vase is Cincinnati. Didn't Grigor have to go on a trip to the vase factory last time he played there?

Yes I agree with that Raahh - he probably wasn't fully match fit, and because all his matches until the final had been so short, maybe it wasn't properly tested. It was still a shocker though wasn't it?

It was a shocker. But Djok knows his game well- and it showed. He kept forcing the mistakes. Rafa had no answers. And usually, you can see him mentally dig deep and grind it out (not always pretty, but effective) it was like he had forgotten how to do that.
at Grigor's trip to the vase factory. I 'll bet that was fun!

Ping Pong World Championship is on Sky Sports Mix. The programme started at 5. That's a lot of ping pong!

The end of the Australian Open always coincides with back to school after the long summer holidays here and the end of the holiday/party vibe around the city. It was such a good tournament until last night.

Quantum it was.
It had been one of the best Aussie opens- for entertaining, unusual matches, I have seen.
until today

Snort at the ping pong marathon. I do like ping pong but I don't know if I could watch it on TV for long!

Yes what a damp squib to end the tournament, such a shame for so many reasons! Same as at Wimbledon I suppose - Djok just "eating people for the lunch", as Goran said.

Bloody Novak.

Needs to lose his appetite

he does!!

He better watch out, there's no such thing as a free lunch!

Jane - it may come back to bite him

Lacking motivation to get up this morning with no tennis on!

Private I've been awake since 3. Which would have been great- last week.

I am trying to find lots of things I can do to avoid doing all the things I have neglected whilst the tennis was on.

On the bright side, I will not see the Incredible India advert unless it makes it's way to a different channel I'm sure I've only every seen it on Eurosport. .

It's very weird with no tennis to watch this morning.
One plus side we are off on holiday today so at least I timed it well
I hope you are feeling better magi - you can't give up-there's clay soon.

Argh how annoying Raahh! Although yes - there is the silver lining of no incredible India or Ladbrokes ads ("love a bit of sport, do ya?!" ).

It's absolutely freezing here as well - another reason I don't want to do anything today!

That is good timing mama! Have a great time.

Hope you have a lovely time mama you're not going to India by any chance?

I heard it's incredible Jane

I'm feeling more positive today. I was thinking as I was lying awake last night that I should be glad that Rafa is still around able to play well and made it to the final. Also Novak wasn't looking smug when he won so that was a bonus!

be glad that Rafa is still around able to play well and made it to the final

Definitely this. We should treasure our faves while they are here!!!

Btw, Eurosport is showing highlights of the men's doubles final this aft at 2pm. Am going to watch/record it - apparently Mahut made a v emotional speech.

Even as a massive fan, I had doubts before the tournament that Rafa would do so well. My hope was that he at least equal last year (without limping off!). I couldn't actually believe how well he played at times.

I think he should play Acapulco, (if he's not injured) and maybe skip IW and Miami. He doesn't need to play them, and maybe it's time to cut back.

If he stays at number 2- he will be set to meet Djok in all the final of the tournaments they both enter. I'm not sure I can cope with that

Private I have a soft spot for Mahut. I'm so glad to see he will retire on a high.

Raahh they were saying on the tennis podcast that Carlos Moya is basically trying to get Rafa to believe he can still win tournaments without having played a lot of matches previously.

I agree, it would be a good idea for him to skip some of the hard court tournaments - they play too much on it anyway. But he could try and be as selective as possible, and as you say if he can do that while protecting his ranking it should be worth it in terms of being able to play for longer overall and still do well in Slams.

If all finals were Rafa v Novak we'd all be having nervous breakdowns!!

I suppose there is is something in not playing too much, but he needs the right balance of match fitness and time off. Tricky really.
Grrr. I'm not liking being back in a no tennis zone.
I have walked the dog- and found an old episode of Criminal Minds to distract whilst I pretend to tidy up.

"Old Muzza Magi reckons the surprise retirement will be Rafa - he'll announce it at Roland Garros.".

Think this is even more likely now.

Can't believe there is no tennis.