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

Poor Sascha, it does sound like a mental block.

Ugh. I'm glad Gimelstob is not invited back. But, as you say, will he turn up as part of the Isner team?

Aww how cute is this!

Glad that Wimbledon have acted so quickly against Gimelstob and we won't have to put up with his obnoxious antics this summer.

Jane sooo cute and just like Andy to make fun of himself like this. Orange tennis

Jane - I love Andy & I love him even more.

Ah that's so cute about Andy's daughter - orange tennis I love that!

He was pretty good on it anyway!!

I'm going to miss him at RG moaning about the overhead cameras

I can't wait for the French Open - it's been sooo long since I've seen any tennis. Only a month to go..,

Oh yes, Jane I'd forgotten about that. If Andy could kill them with a look and a snarl, there'd be lots of dead cameras hanging off zip wires at RG

Funny thing is, no-one else ever seemed bothered by them

I might get chance to log in and watch something today.

Or not

Yes it was always good entertainment when the spider cam was involved! Ah I miss Andy.

I don't think I will get to watch much today. I caught some of Thiem-Schwartzman yesterday. Thiem looked good but I don't think Diego was too happy. I think there was a mix up and he ended up having to play qualies or something - and so got Thiem early in the tournament

Ah well. Good win for Domi though.

Did anyone see any Fed Cup at the weekend? It sounds like it was really good - but I don't know if/where it was on TV. Hopefully the beeb will pick up the next tie.

I see Foggy has pulled out of Barcelona due to a hamstring injury.

Love the idea of Orange Tennis . I miss Andy Murray as well - not so much his grouchiness and his falling out with overhead cameras though!

Rafa should be on soon - hopefully he’s sorted out whatever was bothering him last week. I’m off work today and home alone so going to enjoy some Rafa time . He’s playing on his own court as well.

I've just had chance to look at the scores, not sure if there is a problem with Pouille, but vamos Ferrer!

And for those missing Murray, Leonardo Mayer was born on the exact same day, iirc. No sure what his views on cameras are, though.

Just saw the result! Great win for Ferrer, although Pouille is having a funny old season since (or including) the AO semi, isn't he?

So if Rafa wins today... he plays Ferrer? That seems v fitting doesn't it?!

I've just managed to log on- aww, nice little tribute to Almagro. His son is very cute.

Private it does- same as in the US open, I suppose if his last match is to be against anyone, he would be glad it's Rafa. Assuming he doesn't beat him, of course!

Good knowledge Raahh

Argh sorry - phone is so slow to load atm! I meant good knowledge on the tennis player birthdays!

Aw I like Almagro.

Oh I’d forgotten about Almagro - nice that they did a tribute to him.

It’s looking a bit windy in Barcelona - Rafa doesn’t like the wind. The commentators have already got him playing Ferrer in the next round - wonder why Mayer bothered turning up

The window cleaner has been bothering me - I just want to watch Rafa in peace

Rafa still looking a bit out of sorts

Rafa is definitely looking out of sorts again today.
Neither player is playing great tennis so far.

I thought Rafa was OK with wind as he used to it from Majorca & it's Fed who hates wind?? .

Ok so Mayer’s taken the first set on a tie break. Rafa 2 up in second but definitely not convincing - he just seems really flat.

The commentators are speculating about whether it’s a mental or physical issue. It’s just really unusual to see Rafa like this especially on clay

Such a strange match....searching online it seems Rafa closed his practice session to the press so Eurosport are speculating that maybe it's a physical issue?
The crowd don't seem to know what to make of it either.

It reminds me of how he was in 2014, after his loss to Stan in Aus. He just seemed to lose his confidence. If the match against Foggy is on his mind at all, that won't help.