TENNIS thread - We wave goodbye to SW19, and look forward to the hardcourt season.

[Raahh]

Before we run out .

By be Wimbledon

We had a crazy storm too, the lightening was spectacular.
Following Hungary but only just, Zverev won easily yesterday, he needs to build confidence.
Poor Grigor, it is not his year.

Yes, private my earlier post this morning made it's way into ones from 21/7 but now it's in date order again

Strange news about the Murray brothers playing together. Has Jamie dumped Skupski already
Or he just wants to play with a Murray that wins a few doubles matches given his recent poor run

Also, I'm surprised Andy is playing there. Wasn't it at that tournament last year he played until the early hours, then had to withdraw. The tournament director had a go at him and Andy said he wouldn't play there again. Or was that somewhere else?

Definitely not Grigor's year/18 months is it?

As for the whole doubles circus. It's getting on my nerves.

Is Murray just working his way through splitting up every doubles partnership? I find it a bit off, really.

And I have no words for the how I feel about Kyrgios and Stef. Apart from the fact Stef doesn't need the sort of crap publicity Dick brings with him. His profile is high enough.

kazza yes I think it was Washington wasn't it - where the tournament director criticised Andy? I hadn't put two and two together. It's a bit odd. Perhaps that director is no longer there?! And yes, maybe the Murray/Skupski partnership didn't work out?

It is all a bit of a circus, I agree Raahh. Who knows what Stef is getting out of that doubles set up - what happened to Wesley Koolhoff anyway?! Has he just been dumped as well? It's a right merry go round!!

Skupski is playing World Team Tennis next week so wouldn't have been available anyway. I expect this is a one off to help his brother out from Jamie, not a long term thing.

I think Stef has said before that playing doubles is helping with his net play, but teaming up with Nick seems like more a distraction than a help!

Puts me off watching Stef with Kyrgios in the mix. And that's not fair. . I can understand wanting to get extra practice in, but there must be other people he can team up with.

Very odd indeed.

Gone of Stef now. Is it for attention & media coverage???

Too hot here - am bored of this now!!

I see that Opelka beat Isner in 3 tie break sets. That must have been fun to watch
6'11" man blasts down serves
6'10" man blasts down serves in return

At least the handshake at the net will be interesting at the end of his next match. He's playing little Dan Evans

I saw the opelka/Isner. Match advertised ,kazza and was just very grateful not to be watching it.

magi I don't get Stef's thinking. He doesn't need that kind of media attention. And if he joins in with bad mouthing Rafa, I will definitely go off him.

Beatriz Haddad Maia who beat Garbine at Wimbledon has failed a doping test.

And I will never forgive Dustin for beating Rafa that time but he sure is pretty.

Oh that's interesting Jane
Yy Dustin is a fine looking man. There's an annoying poster on the ATP site, who constantly spams Rafa posts about how Dustin holds a 2-0 hth against him.
It's a bit like 'Kyrgios beat him in 2014'. .

Remind us- what has he done since?

I love Dustin. He posts on twitter about what music he's been listening to (Dreddy Beats) and his results etc. He's great. And hot

I've just seen a headline on Google: "Kyrgios stirs growing Djokovic feud" I presume this is about him scribbling on that Djok fan's t-shirt, but I didn't read it. It's only a feud on his side isn't it, AFAIK? I haven't heard Novak saying anything in response unless I missed something. He's too grown up to get involved - like Rafa.

Private it does seem that the feuds start off in Nick's head , I think. Bit like Rafa, I doubt Djok (much as he wants everyone to love him ) really loses sleep over what the jumped up little oik says about him.

The problems start when the media (i.e the BBC) stir things up into a frenzy ,and make them into something they aren't.

Dustin has always had lovely hair. I miss seeing him around as much on the tour- because we don't get to do 'Dustin bingo'- campervan/tattoo/could have played for GB etc. .

Dustin bingo

I forgot the British mum thing!!

Yes I agree - surely feuds have to be on both sides? Eg Connors and McEnroe genuinely wound each other up when they were playing. Just saying stuff about someone on twitter or whatever for no apparent reason (apart from the endearing annoying celebration) is not a feud

Dustin Brown is about the only player I’ve ever forgiven for beating Rafa - not quite sure why

Nick is a Dick - I’m surprised that Stefanos is playing doubles with him - they seem like very different people - Stef seems to have a bit of intelligence for a start (apart from this decision)

It’s still boiling here - I’m sat in the garden trying to cool down but it’s not working! There are lots of cabbage white butterflies fluttering about - maybe I just notice them more now

Well it looks like all the golf and dog chat has put paid to the Sascha/Lendl partnership, as they've gone their separate ways.

Probably a good move for Sascha you would think? I know he won the O2 with Lendl but I don't think he's won anything else while with him has he. I hope he finds someone who can really help him. And that he wins Hamburg

Djok is out of Montreal so Rafa is the top seed (can you tell I've just got up and started reading tennis news straight away?!).

Fizzy I've seen loads of butterflies recently as well! I wonder if the heat brings them out more?! I'm sure AC could tell us.

It's cooled down a lot here today, thank god.

I had my concerns about the Lendl/Sascha partnership from the off. Sascha can be unpredictable. Once he results stopped happening, and with the off court, court dramas, it was only a matter of time.

Good news about Djok and Montreal. Though he wasn't defending much there, so probably tbought it was a goid one to ditch. No Fed either, so fingers crossed Rafa gets a half decent draw.

I finally had an almond Magnum today - it was yum! I’ve been wanting one since Wimbledon

I’m not really surprised about the Sascha/Lendl thing not working out - they didn’t seem to spend much time together. Hope that Sascha manages to sort his various issues out and get back to playing some good tennis.

Apparently there is a big butterfly count thing going on at the moment - I’m sure that AC would know if the hot weather brings them out more Private

I need some tennis to watch!

I'm keeping an eye on the final set tiebreak between our Fabio and Robbie off Eastenders

I wonder why Tomic retired in Atlanta?

The butterfly count sounds right up AC's street! Jealous of the almond magnum Fizzy. I had a strawberry split today - ie just an ice lolly with vanilla ice cream inside - v old school but nice.

How did our Fabio/Robbie go Jane? I've not watched any tennis this week despite my best efforts! Stupid tasks keep getting in the way

I saw Sascha squeaked through against ? Kukushkin possibly?

Meanwhile here's a link that might make you laugh who would play a match for your life

I got Tsitsipas so could have been worse. I believe Raahh's birthday to be in December? Good luck Raahh if so

Robbie won Private. I'm hoping Sascha can go all the way now that Domi is out of the picture. It's not the same watching the scores though. I'm keeping myself entertained by watching the darts.

Sounds like a good win for Robbie - hope he remembered to feed Wellard when he got home

Darts eh - I like playing it in the pub but never really watched it tbh - I believe it has a few "characters" though?!

I’ve got a May birthday so think I should be ok with Rog (as long as he’s not playing Djok!).

I’d forgotten about Wellard

Ice lollies with ice cream in the middle used to freak me out as a child - I’m not sure why - I can cope with an ice lolly and ice cream - just not both together

Not entirely sure about darts Jane but whatever gets you through I guess . Do they still drink lots of pints?