Tennis Thread: it may be nearing the end of the season but no negative face! Still plenty to look forward to...

[PrivateSpidey]

Couldn't resist!

Happy wedding day Rafa and Maria/Xisca!

I just saw that Medvedev had lost - it would be good to see him do well in London - I can see him winning it (sorry Rafa - would obviously like him to win but he never does very well there)

Rafa is on at 6.30pm tomorrow - hopefully His Lordship will have a late meeting so I can watch it in peace. Some really good matches tomorrow.

I was quite happy with the GBBO result

Flip I forgot GBBO and just caught the last ten minutes on +1 but I'm surprised and delighted with the result !

Jane I was glad with the result, but found it very sad to watch, clearly Steph has some issues, as she fell apart spectacularly, and I really felt for her her. It was awful to watch. There must be more to her back story that they didn't touch.

I think Danill has a good chance in London. I wouldn't be surprised if Rafa plays a couple of rounds and drops out(though I do hope he doesn't).

Mathematically, he is close to the year end number 1 already, if Djok loses early ish and he gets to the semis. I think.

Maths was never my strong point.

The upshot is, Rafa has to be 1500 points ahead by the end of Paris to ensure he has the year end in the bag, without London being a factor.

Or something.

Oh bugger, just wrote a long post and then the page decided to refresh itself and the post disappeared!! Argh!

Anyway. We just got back from a few days in lovely Wales so I'm just catching up on things - haven't seen any of Paris but will try and watch tomorrow. Saw from the scores that Sascha had a good win over Verdasco. In just 56 minutes!! He must have had a wash on that he needed to get back to.

GBBO sounds intriguing - haven't seen any of it this year for the first time ever!

Oh dear, she did get very stressed a lot and seems to be a perfectionist.

New baby Baghdatis

Oh wow! How cute!!

Aww.

Retirement has it's benefits, but Rafa had better not be getting any ideas.

Ah baby Baghdatis

When Andy won at Antwerp he said that he was about to be the father of three kids and needed to get back on the tour - I wasn’t sure if he meant that he needed the money or needed to stop producing more children

It was sad how Steph fell apart - I think she was probably the better baker but I did like David (and his lovely symmetrical face!)

Ugh I’ve got work today and I want to stay at home and watch tennis - the hour change is still confusing me as well.

Aw lovely baby Baghdatis!! That's great.

I see Fed has now withdrawn from the ATP Cup as well (NB I still don't really know exactly what that is! Is it the one in the old Hopman Cup (RIP ) slot?). Anyway he's out so Switzerland are out of it as well because they need a certain number of players with a high enough ranking to get in. I think!!

Well, that's nice of Federer isn't it. I hope Stan sends him a really passive aggressive bear .

I've read an article now- I see Stan is also 'ruled out' but it doesn't say why.

It does mention the old 'managing his career' chestnut in relation to Fed- again, why is it ok when he does it, but no one else?

I'm getting a scary ad banner for James Blunt across the top of the page. He appears to be going under water . It's a bit off putting.

Im getting a Godzilla ad Raahh! The mind boggles.

Just managed to sit down to watch some tennis. It's a set apiece now between Raonic and Thiem. Ordinarily, I'd be delighted to see Milos finally turning his season around, but I'm looking ahead, and need someone in Djok's half who has a chance to beat him. Djok has a 9-0 record against Milos. He has a 6-3 record against Thiem, and all of Dom's wins have been on clay, but it's slightly better odds!

Milos (who has always been tall, obviously), is looking a bit gangly. His shorts seems a bit short, and small. Not a good look on a man with long legs.

Talking of tall, I miss Delpo. It's now over a year since that knee injury in Shanghai that messed up all his hard work.

By contrast (fashion pundit Raahh continues), Dom looks really short, as his shorts look massive and too long

They need to swap kits.

Dom is also in danger of being camouflaged against the grey of the court.

(The court itself is green, the back of the court is grey- Dom- like Rafa likes to stand way back )

I feel this commentary is essential for those without Prime .

Thanks Raahh I appreciate your commentary do you think they got their shorts mixed up? Maybe Sascha put them in the wrong load?

Jane it is very possible- Dom's tops is a very 'white top washed with a black sock' grey. .

ooh, Roanic was doing dso well, and Thiem has a break point to maybe serve for the match next game.

And he gets it.

Milos will rue that missed chance. Not the best time for his serve to desert him.

I'm missing the interesting outfits from the French open. What happened to all the skeletons and bees?

The crowd like Thiem.

I think he's going to take this now.

Think that last game deflated Milos.

But well done Dom.

Fritz plays Stefanos next.

Very unlucky first round draw form the point of view of Tiafoe to get Taylor, I thought. 2 players who are both deserving of going further in the draw.

I see Goffin is playing Dimitrov. What do we think of Grigor's chances? He's had some better luck lately.

Hmm I'm thinking Goffin will win.

Well done Domi.

Fritz, who looks like he is 15 still, is in blue.

Stef, who looks way older than the(I year) older Fritz is favouring his black and grey patterned top that I think he may have worn at the Laver cup. I'm not a fan. But his orange head band matches the stripes on his shoes.

And we're off.

Jane I think you may be right.

oh no, false start. They are still knocking up.