Tennis: waltzing into winter

[JaneJeffer]

[Fizzywinegum]

Me too Raahh

DH just laughed when I said that I wanted to watch Dan Evans so it looks as if it’s the rugby followed by boxing later.

I’ll be putting my foot down when Rafa is on in Paris

[kazzaD66]

This isn't looking good for Dan.

It's not looking good for the rest of us either, if the three horsemen of the apocalypse feel the need for a 5pm press conference

[Raahh]

It's pants, isn't it?

DD1 is due back into school, after her 3rd lot of isolation, on Wednesday.
I expect her to be off again, by the end of the week to be honest.

[kazzaD66]

Bugger!

[ScienceSensibility]

I think Dan ran out of gas, he’s played a lot of tennis recently. Nevertheless, he’s had a great year, second only to Djokovic in Top 20 wins.
He’s got such ‘tennis IQ’ very like Andy Murray in that respect. Great court craft and his hand skills at the net are sublime.
I would love to see him make the Top 20, but the Next Next Gen are making their impact earlier than ever. I hope he is seeded for the Aus Open.

ATP confirmed this evening that the O2 Finals are going ahead. I’m glad really, and I profoundly thank everyone involved in making them happen. Being able to watch tennis has improved my mental health enormously these last couple of months.

[Raahh]

I am enjoying this final- Rublev is playing better, and should win, but Sonego is not giving up - he's not doing as well as against Djok or Evans, but still proving he deserves his spot in the final.

Rublev- if he wins - will be only a few points from London qualification - less than 40- so I think his place is safe. He deserves it, having won as much as he has this year.

[PrivateSpidey]

Well I just saw the last few games of that, Rublev looked v good there. He's a nice player to watch.

Sonego did well though, I'd forgotten he was a lucky loser this week.

I liked the little video tour of Vienna.

[PrivateSpidey]

Science I was also worried about the WTFs in London, really glad it'll still go ahead. Same for Paris.

[Raahh]

Well done Rublev- 5 titles in a year. 250/500s- but still, great progess, and not to be sniffed at.

[Raahh]

Private yes, a lucky loser- maybe that is Djok's achilles heel- Italian luckey losers, wasn't Chickenato an LL at RG ( or a qualifier?) .

Sonego is very nice, I am glad he's done well.

And I like Rublev-- he's in the Medvedev mold of Russian players (i.e looks like a Scooby Doo character) rather than a rugged Khachanov one. .

[Raahh]

I've just realised that after a late summer of the lurid Andrei kit- Rublev's kit is a very dirgy olive green .

oh, endearing himself to the crowd , with his 'my granny was an Austrian'- good man.

[Raahh]

The video tour of Vienna reminde me of the little clips you get on Eurovison.

I missed 'proper' Eurovision this year

[PrivateSpidey]

Eurovision I know what you mean.

I'm a big fan of Rublev, he's great. Yes the kit was a bit more toned down!!

Just been looking at the draw for Paris - I see Dan and Stan play each other again - haven't they just played each other?!

[Raahh]

- I think they played in St Petersburg.

Reminds me of when Stan played- and beat- Grigor in seemingly every opening round of every slam for a while. Poor Grigor .

[PrivateSpidey]

Oh yes they seemed to be playing each other in every tournament!!

[Raahh]

I've seen that Rublev has qualified for London now, as the cut off for points for London have dropped slightly, so he is now just above it.

So- well done him.

The final spot is between Schwartzman and Berrettini really- Diego is quite a bit ahead, though. Plus, he is scheduled to play Sofia as well. The fly in the ointment might be the injury that forced him out of Vienna.

[JaneJeffer]

Well done Milkman!

Hope you're all focusing on your things

[Fizzywinegum]

I’m definitely focusing on certain things Jane

I see that Rafa is playing Deliciano in the first round - it says tomorrow but I’ve fallen for that before so I’m not building my hopes up!

[PrivateSpidey]

Fizzy you beat me to it

I'm just watching a bit of Ruud (your favourite Raahh) v Humbert while I get tea ready. Looks like Humbert is staging a bit of a comeback in the second set.

So pleased for Milkman winning his first tour title!

[Raahh]

I'm am very focused
Yes, Ruud was doing well in the first set- his focus has wandered a bit in the second!

[kazzaD66]

I saw that Deliciano won his first round match this morning. So the prize is to play Rafa

Where are you watching it? Is it on Prime?

I see that Salisbury and Ram have had to withdraw because Joe has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive

[Raahh]

Oh no, poor Joe - I hope this doesn't affect his qualification to London - how long will he have to isolate for? It's 2 weeks away, so he should just be ok (assuming he doesn't get ill)- they are the top ranked players .

[Raahh]

And in answer to your other question Kaza, sorry, yes, Paris is on Prime.

[Raahh]

Some prize that, isn't it- the chance to play Rafa- even if it's not his best surface, and you know the bloke really well, it's still a bit daunting.

They were saying earlier that the courts are a bit rough at the moment and playing slower, so should be good for Rafa in the early stages - before they speed up.

[kazzaD66]

Thanks Raahh
I'd like to try to watch tomorrow, especially Dan vs Stan because of their style of play, but I've got a ton of things to do tomorrow, so not holding out much hope