Tennis thread: looking forward to the new season

[PrivateSpidey]

While we dream up our Australian Open advent calendar, the chat continues!

Oops sorry - the "I know" was to Raahh's prediction of a big media build up to Rafa v Kyrgios - definitely don't need that again!!

Ah magi we will do our best, commentary plus random musings no doubt!!

Did you see Sharapova and Grogor (might have been yesterday) she was doing some commentary at a tournament and he went to see her- she said she didn't like his yellow shorts. It was quite funny, and nice to see them having a laugh together.

I had almost forgotten they used to be an item- it was 5 years ago!

The R1s do look good- a Struff-ing would be great!

I've just seen that Sascha plays Chickenato in the first round- now, Chicken has not been that great recently, but Sascha is always vulnerable to early losses.

It's good news for Dimitrov that for the first time in ages he has not drawn Stan in the first round of a Slam .

Just watched the Grigor / Sharapova clip.

"People change..."

I see Heather Watson beat top seed Mertens in Hobart to reach the semis.

That clip was cute!

Heather always seems to play well in Hobart doesn't she?! Good on her beating Martens, that's a good win.

Ernie won his second round qualifying - plays again overnight tonight - go Ernie!!

"Martens" honestly, I've had it with this phone. I type what I mean and it changes it! Well that's my story anyway.

I've just been looking at the draw again. I see KAndo is back, and plays a qualifier - lucky for all the seeded players as he'd have been a "dangerous floater"

And Caspar Ruud could play the winner of Zverev v Chicken. That's a bit of a "banana skin" (© commentators everywhere) for Sascha.

Just listening to the Tennis Podcast as well. They are talking about Diego Schwartzman calling Medvedev an idiot to his face at the ATP cup - I don't think I knew this?! Presume when Medvedev hit the ump's chair with his racquet??!

Ah tennis

Ha ha little Diego! He should also have a word with Dick

I know, surely one of the nicest men in tennis (Diego I mean)!

Ernie has qualified for the main draw! Good on him. I admire his motivation!!

He'll probably get KAndo in the first round.

I saw pictures of Diego with his model girlfriend. He must have been standing on a box

I'm just waiting for DH to get home so we can watch the next episodes of Schitts Creek ...

...And as I'm waiting I just turned on the TV and came across highlights from Adelaide on Eurosport.

ATM they are showing Lloyd Harris (didn't he play Fed at Wimbledon last year?) v Tommy Paul. They are ranked 90 and 91 in the world. Bit of a coincidence

Anyway I'm afraid it's not v exciting so far.

But the second semi I think is FAA vs Rublev, which was apparently really close, so I'm hoping they'll show that soon.

Anyway these are just random musings really but I thought I'd better report on it.

I see DeMinaur is out of Melbourne. He played q lot in the ATP cup didn't he?

Ah ad break - just a little preview of what's going to annoy us over the next 2 weeks

"What's not to love about a Crocodile garage door?"

Arrghhh!!

Sascha was apparently making his feeling known about why De Minaur wasn't being talked about - but Dick was - prior to the Aussie open. Since Alex is the Aussie number one after all, and has had a really good year. Spoke sense, did Sascha. Then moved on to tip about laundry. not really.

I do like Sascha's honesty

It's a shame for DeMinaur about the Aus Open though.

It is a shame about Alex- he played so well against Rafa at the ATP cup.

That is a shame about Alex - he seemed really up for the ATP Cup.

I’m a bit behind but would definitely describe myself as a Nick Knocker (don’t think I agree with the White supremacist thing though)

Round one does look pretty good - I would be very happy if Djok got a Struffing - not sure if I could cope with a Rafa v Kyrgios match in Australia - hopefully it won’t get to that point

We’ve been rewatching The Night Manager on Amazon (not really just to see where Rafa got married!) I want to go back to Mallorca ...

Nice to see Sascha talking sense as well I also like how honest he is - it’s as if he can’t help himself sometimes

I know. Remember when he went through that phase at press conferences of saying he was sick of being asked the same questions all the time etc?!

He got a bit of stick for it I think, because people who've been playing a lot longer have been answering the same Qs for years, but it was kind of funny.

I don't think he's said it recently AFAIK. Maybe since the "no negative face" pep talk?!

Yes it was like when he first got Twitter but didn’t really know what he’d tweeted (probably because he didn’t do it!) - it is quite refreshing because he does go against the usual corporate responses

he's great. I never used to like him much but he's won me round.

Btw if anyone gets a chance to watch FAA vs Rublev highlights, it's well worth it. Really good match.

I would like to say they could both be dangerous in Melbourne but it doesn't often work out that way when people do well right before a Slam.

Either that or I jinx them

On the podcast, David Law picked Medvedev to win the Aus Open

I need to catch up on the Tennis Podcast Spidey - Medvedev could have a chance of winning (more so that Sascha and Stefan I think) but David Law’s predictions are usually a bit rubbish

Yes, I would put him above those two as well. But it'll probably be Djok again, on a hard court I don't know if Rafa could beat him??... Although he could get Struffed first, of course!

I'm going to be realistic and say that Rafa's chances- are probably not that great of beating Djok in Australia- and given the conditions over there, it could really go against him if they start closing the roof etc. He has been playing well- but not as well as he was playing during Davis Cup, I don''t think, or when he was battling back against Daniil in London.

It's a real shame he didn't get chance to progress in London- that one early loss really cost him, because by the end, I think he was playing well enough to win it.

I didn't see Medvedev's match against Djok at the ATP cup, but it was a very good one apparently, and very close, so he might have a chance. I'm not sure. I don't think we are done with the big 3 yet in Grand Slams.

But I am prepared to be proved wrong.

I'd love Rafa to get his second Aussie Open though- and, ,as we keep saying, be the one to hold at least 2 of each Slam in the Open Era. Then I would happily let Thiem win in RG (ok, not happily...)

Melbourne are still going ahead with a thing for Margaret Court, I read. though they aren't calling it a 'celebration'. I also learnt in the article (which I admit I did not know) that she is the only other player, before Kim Clijsters, to hold a record win of 3 Slams as a Mother.

So why are they always banging on about Serena, when she was far from the first player to ever give birth?

I think the main unknown factor re Djok is the ATP Cup and how much that's taken out of him. Although knowing him he'll bounce back unscathed!! But it does make it a bit different this year (maybe).

On the podcast they were saying Rafa could have his off-season after the Aus Open (as he hasn't really had one up to now!).

What happened to Kim's comeback btw? I think she was injured but then I don't know what happened, whether she's still planning on it etc?

I think this is Serena's best chance of winning another Slam - well Wimbledon as well, but I think she could do it here.

I knew MC had won Slams as a mother (though I didn't know it was 3) - so did Evonne Goolagong iirc, she was a mum when she won Wimbledon? But you don't often hear that mentioned.

Anyway as I've gone on about loads of times (sorry) I just want Serena to put the MC record to bed, although I know she has to win 2 more to do that. Still, I reckon this is as good a time as any to draw level at least!

I agree Djok's fitness is the key- he played a lot, but he is one of the fitness men on tour. And it was all 3 set matches he probably does more on an average training day .

Come on Struff!

I think Kim's come back was delayed a bit sadly.