Tennis - waiting for Australian Open

[magimedi]

And longing for lots of chat!!

Not daft, Uncle Toni.
I've just been reading that Djok thinks 'most players' want to abandon the season due to all the injuries. I bet he would love that. Stay number 1 be default.
He goes on to suggest they follow the NBA model of staging all the tournaments in one venue, one surface. I'm sure the chosen surface wouldn't be clay..

I'm very sad about Ash- after Simona lost, I was hoping it would be her chance to win on home turf. I think she has been affected by not playing much all year though.

Did look like a straightforward match for Medvedev.

Lockdown is easing tomorrow so crowds will be back.

Hope you’re ok kazza

Yes wise man Uncle Toni

I’m trying to combine watching the tennis with wfh and keeping up with this thread - what could possibly go wrong

That's good - Startup. Fake crowd noise is ok up to a point.
Although it will give Djok a proper audience again for his shenanigans.

Fizzy .

Thanks Fizzy unfortunately my dad had a stroke on New Year's Day and has been in hospital ever since. He also tested positive for covid about 3 weeks into his stay, despite being negative when he was admitted and through regular tests until the positive one, but has been asymptomatic. The hospital is now looking to discharge him home but they need a care plan in place first (he lives alone) so now they may move him to a different hospital in the interim, if only for a day or two, because they need the bed. Going over to his house soon to take delivery of some equipment the hospital has ordered for him and to get a key safe fitted. This whole thing has been made doubly difficult, of course, because I can't visit dad or speak to the hospital and therapists in person, everything is by phone. Social care can't even visit dad's house to make an assessment because of bloody covid. I'm now just really nervous about dad being on his own (with therapists visiting 3 times a day) but the medics think he can do it and dad wants to go home.

Sorry to bring the mood down a bit!

kazza I'm so sorry to hear that.. It's a really shit time to be going stuff like this.

Sorry to hear that kazza - hope things get sorted out

And ffs- what did I tell you?- they are waffling about the shot clock, and now blaming Rafa for marks on the court. Well, some of it might be sweat- but the yellow bits weren't!

They can’t blame Rafa for the bird poop!

Exactly .

I did expect this to be a tighter match- not too disappointed it isn't though. (playing Medvedev next will be much tougher).

I am not really relishing a final against Djok. Unless it's the same score as RG. .

No, the it's not going well for Stef now, so I expect Rafa to wrap this up quite soon. Unless Stef can pull off a miracle.

Kazza. Very tough.

Have sent you a PM.

I am being stalked by the dog.

I refuse to go anywhere before this match ends.

Rafa is having a bit of a wobble in this tie break- if it goes to a 4th set, I will have no choice but to take the dog out.

He has just brought me my boots .

Well, I'm back from a sprint around the block.

Maybe Stef will stage a come back .

Not sure I like how this match is going!

The commentators are very biased against Rafa!

I have no idea what has happened to Rafa, but it all seems to be going a bit pear shaped.
And Stef has the break.

This could actually go to 5 sets!

Fizzy they always are. It has amazed me how pro Djok they have been - they aren't usually to be honest- but I think the reason for that is the absence of Federer.

Everything started to go wrong for Rafa when he missed that smash in the tie break really. And Stef really has stepped up.

I think I jinxed it by suggesting Stef could perform a miracle.

I don't want one!

Come on Rafa! I'm glad I'm not the only one who has noticed the biased commentary- the older one can't bear to say a nice word about Rafa!

Wow four aces!

Frew never can, Child. I can't stand his commentary.

Stef is playing very well now, to be fair. But it would be nice, if just once, Rafa's matches were not full of comments on shot clocks and 'well, he's only won it once you know'.

Well, that's once more than pretty more every other bloke currently on tour bar 3 then, isn't it! .

Jane I'm not sure what happened- Stef looked down and out at the end of the second set.

And now I can't even call who will win the match.

I can't cope with a tie break in the 5th set though!

Vamos Rafa!