TENNIS THREAD -Sliding in the clay, on the journey to Roland Garros !

[Raahh]

Just had a slight panic when I saw the thread was nearly full.

I am now off to check the schedule properly- to see what I'll miss today

Goran

I think they've told that Goran story on the podcast before I guess "Bad Goran" must have taken over at the time!

I love Catherine as well - she doesn't hold back, and she talks so much sense. She's brilliant - and Sam is too.

Btw apparently Rafa is the first ATP player to defend a title this year - hope they mentioned that!

Can't believe RG is so soon - v excited.

Small mercies- we were spared how even more biased the commentary would have been, if Rafa had played Roger in the semi, as was expected.

If it could have got more biased!.

RG men's qualifying (women's not yet released) includes Kokkinakis, Dustin Brown (member of The List™), Tommy Robredo (he must be knocking on a bit mustn't he?!), Jay Clarke, James Ward.

I didn't see Ernests in there - perhaps he got into the main draw but I know he hasn't had many wins lately so maybe not.

Hope he's playing, he's good on clay!

I hope Ernests is there. Haven't seen James Ward for a while.

No me neither - I think he was injured for a while. I wonder if he still wears those loud Ted Baker shirts?!

Fingers crossed for Ernests!!

Rod knows what he's talking about

Rod Laver on twitter:
@rodlaver
Congratulations
@RafaelNadal
on your victory in Rome. I’m heading to
@RolandGarros
in the coming weeks where I expect to see you defend for No.12. It’s hard to imagine anyone who could topple the King of Clay

Ha I've just realised that tagged Rafa and Rod as though they are MNers

No pressure then Rafa

I wonder what Rafa would post about. AIBU to want to throttle my work colleague every time he does his stupid hand gesture?

Jane

that would be funny.

AIBU - I'm being constantly watched for my time keeping at work- they even have a clock that times to the second. AIBU to throw a brick at the clock (though I'm the nicest staff member there, and not usually prone to chucking stuff). A colleague threw a chair!

It's so funny when you put it like that Raahh. Everyone keeps commenting on my timekeeping even though I never actually go over the time allowed! It's actually quite irritating

that made me chuckle

I'm just catching up with the bits i missed of the No1 Court extravaganza. I think my favourite bit was the montage of No1 Court highlights. I love a good montage, and the Beeb never seems to do them any more (as I think we've discussed on here before). It was a bit melancholy in some ways... but it was still great. BBC + Wimbledon is a great combo.

Interesting fact I saw on twitter earlier (sorry for all the posts - I've definitely got the pre-Slam excitement) is that there will be no American men seeded at RG for the first time in the Open era

Isner is injured and Tiafoe is just outside the seeds I think (34-35 or something like that).

Still, they have plenty on the women's side though!!

Just started watching Wimbledon back from yesterday....and the first voice I hear is AC doing the intro! You lot could of warned me Does that mean he's commentating all afternoon!?!

kazza I thought it best to keep schtum

Wait til you see the montage of old clips, there's a special treat in there just for you!

We thought it would be a lovely surprise for you kazza

Do you wanna see a pic of him, kazza?

Oh God! Not the match where he nearly beat a seed - was it Mats Wilander, can't remember? He's lived off that ever since

Just managed to see the first match before I had to take DS to tennis. It's fast volleys at the net and a bit of banter and mucking about that I love. And frankly, today's players could learn a lot about volleying by watching the likes of Pat Cash Hope to watch more later whilst trying to tune out the annoying git in the commentary box, and I don't mean the lovely Tim!

I actually thought AC was very subdued yesterday.

Yes he didn't really say an awful lot, and I thought at first that he'd be in his element commentating on exhibition stuff. But when I watched the rest of it today he did keep a fairly low profile! What gives?!

I love those quick volleys/reactions at the net as well, lovely stuff!!

More top singles players should play doubles - recently more have been haven't thy, in the masters series etc. Hope it carries on (eg Tsitsipas and co in doubles at Wimbledon would be brilliant).

Perhaps someone has had a word with him. I can only hope and pray that it continues through the grass court season.

Anyway, back to the post match interviews and then Venus and Kim

Lovely Tim? Lovely Tim? - NO - 'enman was always a prat!!

How I would love to see the top players in doubles. I so wish they'd play. Can't you just imagine Rafa & Tits v Roger & Thiem??? I'd be more interested in that than a lot of the singles.