Tennis Thread: who will (Arc de) Triomphe in Paris? It's going to be Eiffel-y exciting! The French Open is almost here!

[PrivateIsles]

Sorry, couldn't resist!

Bring on RG!

Funnily enough, I was just looking at that picture on FB Raahh

It's not a bad one, is it? Private

Seen worse

Why can't that be the photo that pops up all the time?!

Aww, love these photos

He looks so proud and happy, showing off his little boy. So sweet.

Don’t want to jinx him but yay good draw for Rafa for a change

Jane about time. But I can already hear the Djok and Fed fans crying foul. ( not seen their draws yet).

No wonder Verdasco looks happy - he's a proud new dad and he's drawn Dan Evans in the first round

Not a kind draw for the Brits. Edmund has Chardy and Norrie has Dick so, unless Kyrgios blows another gasket and gets defaulted again (please, I can't see any of them getting through to the second round

Who does have in the first round? Do you know magi ? I know you take a keen interest in all things Stan

Stan has someone I've never heard of I think he's in Fed's quarter.

Djok has the worst draw of the top guys I think, with Thiem, Delpo and our Fabio all in the mix. And Zverev. Thiem could possibly beat him over 5 sets, not sure about the others at this stage.

Azarenka v Ostapenko is a women's first round . And Venus has drawn a seed but I can't remember who it is...

Also Kyrgios could play Djok - if he gets to that stage, that is.

I see the Laver* Cup is becoming an official ATP tournament. Roger seems pleased!! I don't really know what "official" means though - ranking points?

*I forgot about the annoying auto correct of Laver to "Paver"! Argh! Surely I've typed it enough times now for it to be recognised?!

Kyrgios has withdrawn from the French Open....

Oh good!

Hurrah!

No-one will miss him. So long as if he plays Wimbledon/Queens, they don't roll out the red carpet, and expect us to listen to the 'poor misunderstood Kyrgios' spiel.

Raahh somehow, I think that's exactly what we'll be hearing...

Yes all the "he's so entertaining, such a draw" crap the commentators come out with drives me round the twist. As if that's the type of behaviour that should be used to get people interested in tennis. We don't want players who tank when things aren't going their way. We want players who give it their all. Are you listening John Lloyd?

YY- he is not 'box office' John.

He's a jerk.

Ooh, what was the reason for his withdrawal? Death threats from irate (but perfectly coiffered) Parisians?

That’s good news about Kyrgios - I also get really annoyed when they refer to him as “box office” - I do not want to watch people who behave like that play tennis.

Not long to go now til the french open - does anyone know which tv channels it will be shown on?

fizzy in the past it has been on Eurosport and itv4. I know itv4 have got the rights for the next couple of years at least, which is good

Fizzy ITV4 (Inverdale is involved) and Eurosport.