TENNIS THREAD- Australian Open continues- we're ready for the popcorn matches!

[Raahh]

I am not going to get chance to watch much more of this so this was a bit of a quick one...

Jane Stan and Sascha are due to play at 3.30am our time and Rafa/Thiem about 8.30am.

I’ve not seen any of Sascha’s matches

Jane yes, Stan and Sascha are the last 'day' match- there is every possibility it will still be going when I get up , like the Fed/Sangren one was, if it goes to 5 sets.

I am a bit nervous about the Rafa match. I keep thinking about the US open match in 2018, where it came down to the wire. That's fine when it's other players- but I'm not up for a match tie break in the 5th for Rafa tomorrow!

I was thinking of that US open match as well Raahh. Eek. That was such a crazy and brilliant match.

I think Thiem is going to take it to him again tomorrow, tbh. But I reckon Rafa will be up to it.

Re Djok v Fed, unless Fed makes a super rapid recovery from this injury, and the long matches he's had, not to mention any hangover from that Wimbledon final tiebreak... It's hard not to see Djok winning that.

I hope Sascha and Stan play a marathon five setter so it'll still be going on tomorrow morning!

Can I ask- Whats all the furore about Margaret Court?

I know she's made comments about LGBT but what exactly has she said that's causing so much uproar?

Sorry to get serious! Don't want to hijack fun thread!

Btw. The women are getting a bit of a short shrift on the scheduling aren't they? I really want to watch Muguruza v Pavs but it's the second day match. Halep is on first. Why don't they put one men's and one women's on at night?

They said on the Podcast there are no women's night matches this week at all . Except the final I suppose?

Margaret Court has made a lot of homophobic comments over the years. She wrote an open letter to Qantas saying that she would boycott them over their support for same sex marriage. I think she is in the news more lately as Serena is trying to equal her grand slam record of 24.

I think the Qantas thing was they said they supported same-sex marriage when they had the referendum on that in Aus, so she said she wouldnt fly with them any more.

It's also a focus at the moment because it's 50 years since she won the Grand Slam, and they were marking/celebrating that (in a pretty low key way, as it turned out) at this year's Aus Open.

I think you're right BGD, because Serena is so close to matching the record, Margaret Court keeps cropping up in conversation at every Slam, in the debate about whether Serena can do it. Which is why I want Serena to win at least one more! Otherwise it'll be years before anyone else gets close.

Margaret Court has expressed very homophobic views - she is against same sex marriage and said that women’s tennis was full of lesbians. Her views on race aren’t any better - she praised apartheid in South Africa and said that they seemed to have the right idea about race.

It is all a bit awkward for the Australian Open - Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe held up a banner to try to get Margaret Court arena renamed to Evonne Goolagong

Thanks everyone.

IIRC Margaret Court accused Martina of being a bad influence on young girls and would encourage them to become gay. She's a fecking eejit

Yes the Aus Open said "two high profile guests" (idk why but that phrase made me laugh) had breached protocol or something.

It said on the Beeb website that Martina made the banner in her hotel room with art supplies she bought herself

Love it.

Go Martina and Mac!!!

Yes I think your right PrivateSpidey and she must be a bit of an embarrassment for Australian tennis. Serena has had such longevity and if she doesn't do it then I dont think anyone can. I've only caught a bit of Serena lately but her movement seems so slow now.

Mac and Martina are the two people who got me into watching tennis and I'm so proud of them.

Jane same. I found that protest so sort of touching - like something a fan would do, making a banner yourself and holding it up with your friend. Love them!!

BGD
If she doesn't do it then I dont think anyone can agree. Of active players, I think Venus is next after Serena on 7?, Sharapova on 5, so obviously neither of those two are in the running; then others with 1 or 2/3 (can't think of anyone else has won more than that, am probably missing someone obvious).

It seems impossible someone would dominate like that again. Although people probably said that after Pete Sampras etc and here we are!!...

PrivateSpidey. I think the only player who was a decent match for Serena (for a time) was Justine Henin. That must have been like 15 years or so ago so her longevity is incredible. Kim Clijsters was good too. They seemed to retire quite young though. I can't remember if they had injuries or not.

Wow I guess Sascha really wants to give that money to the firefighters!

Jane

I'm glad that Muguruza and Halep are through- but they play each other tomorrow.

I am just hoping this morning's match is not too stressful.

Well done to them. Great to see Garbine up there.

Morning all I hope everyone's ok?
Finally getting to see a whole match this morning, I hope it's not too nerve wracking!
Vamos!

Morning all. I'm in work again, but I hope you're all making all your last minute preparations before settling down for Rafa. Hoping for a smoother ride than Monday.

Hi everyone.

I don't like Domi's hair!

Morning all

This match has started well hasn't it?

Pleased for Sascha winning overnight, his interview with Mac was great, he was v funny and the crowd were loving him

Right- back from school run number 2.

I don't like Dom's hair either, I'm afraid.
I don't think the dog is going to let me watch for long.
I do feel this might get stressful.

FFS it's Frew.

It's started better than the bagel when they played at the US open, that's for sure!

.

I nearly choked on my cereal this morning and the dog decided it was the perfect time to jump on me while I was coughing. I think he was trying to help