Tennis: Welcome to Miami

[JaneJeffer]

Noticed the last thread is almost full

And no- Benoit is not doing himself any favours is he. Likened playing at the tournament this year to being in a 'cemetary' .

The bit that stuck in my craw was that he is complaining about being paid €12,000 to sit in a hotel room, leave it for a couple of hours to throw a match and then fly back home. Does he really not appreciate the privileged position he is in? I'm sure there are many who would love to be paid €12,000 for that, given what millions of people have been through in the past year!
It seems Benoit has disappeared up his own beard.

kazza yes, he's getting a bit of a reputation for tanking and then crowing about how much money he has .

If it's making him that unhappy, he can call it quits. Let someone else take the spot.

My thoughts exactly Raahh
If he doesn't like it, he can make way for someone who appreciates it more.
He's sounding more like Tomic every day

I nearly posted about Tomic too! Yes, he was just the same- but without even Paire's level of success.

It's not a good look for the sport, all these whinging tennis players, able to make some money, travel the world when no-one else can- and moaning that they are being inconvenienced. I'm sure the quarantining/training in hotels hasn't been great for many reasons- but they didn't have to do it - they would lose income by not playing, but rankings have been protected for a year.

I gave in, and tidied dd2's room.

I am so disappointed. I was really looking forward to some tennis today.

Well, finally- Milkman has won his match against Humbert

And it looks like the rain is coming back.

It looks a bit gloomy in Monte Carlo

Dan Evans has just started. I’m watching FAA and Garin (his thighs are immense!) I wonder if uncle Toni is there?

I agree that extremely wealthy tennis stars who are still allowed to travel around the world moaning about their lot is not a good look! It must be rubbish playing to empty stadiums but, yes some people have had it a lot worse!

Oh yes uncle Toni is there (they keep calling him Toni Nadal - don’t they know his real name is uncle Toni )

Fizzy it is confusing that they keep referring to 'Nadal' but mean Toni Nadal- although they were talking about Rafa as well, which confused me all the more.

Just call him Uncle Toni!

Apparently as Millman went off after his match, he said something about rain being about 45 minutes away- and the commentators were laughing about him being a weather man. (Plus, it was lucky he didn't go to 3rd set in his match)
I think he might be right though. Doesn't look great, that sky.

FizzyUncle Toni
Just looked at the MC website and saw play had resumed.
Looked at their Instagram aswell. Photo of the court men sweeping the water off the court ready for play. The English translation is the "short men" Bit sizeist
I wish my 40 year old French was better. There's a comment in French where Benoit Paire is mentioned but I can't translate it all. If anyone can help.......

All important kit commentary- they are both wearing the same adidas one and it's very dull. Bit p.e kit- like. In the gloom, I'm almost missing the neon Andre Nike kit.

Yes it does look a bit utilitarian PE kit, especially with both of them wearing it! Felix is about the only person who can carry off the Agassi Nike kit! Looks freezing in MC!

Maybe magi could help with your French translation kazza?

Felix looks good in most of the kits, to be honest. .

Haven't seen what Grigor will be wearing yet - maybe he will be in a rainbow coloured splodgy track suit. .

Raahh I hope so!

Yes Felix is quite easy on they eye

Oh no more rain

Well, Millman the weatherman was spot on, really.

Blooming rain.

I see Dan has won the first set and was just about to watch some but now it's raining?

kazza I think the comment is implying that Benoit is an alcoholic who denigrates French sport and Ugo Umbert got there by luck not his tennis playing and it's a pity the public can't go to the tournament but it would be sad to see those fools playing (or something like that!). Nice

I was about to tune in to Prime earlier and then thought oh I won't bother yet as it won't be starting until later totally forgetting it's not on Miami time! Don't know what was going through my mind! Anyway it sounds like I didn't miss much play? That's a good win for Millman - and good weather forecasting also

kazza I saw the photo of the court being swept, but the IG translate function seems to have disappeared for me (or is it just me - probably ).

Well- that's not a very nice comment is it?

Probably true about Benoit, but unfair to Humbert. He's been doing pretty well recently.

I saw that Tomic (after we mentioned him) is now out- but he did beat during qualifying The Player formerly Known as Andy Murray's doubles partner. Pierre HH. I like Pierre HH.

Which lead me to wondering- has Mahut retired yet? He seemed to, a couple of years back- and then re-appeared. .

Private- no, you didn't miss much.

Just lots of scenes of MC in the rain.

It still looks way more picturesque than Manchester in the rain, not hard so that's something.

yes MC in the rain still sounds pretty nice tbh - apart from the lack of tennis that is.

I think Mahut and PHH are playing doubles this week, I'm sure I saw their names in the draw. There were some other interesting teams - include Dimitrov and Goffin. And some others which I now can't remember...

Thanks Jane
I got the general, rather unpleasant, gist of it but not the detail! As you say - nice!

Re doubles pairs private I see Evans and Skupsi are playing together again. Apparently, Ken has DVT
Also, Jamie lost in the first round yesterday but not with Soares. Don't know what's happened there?
Stefanos is playing with his brother again.

I've just read that Medvedev has been withdrawn from the tournament following a positive covid test. Which is a worry, as he was practicing with Rafa (yesterday?).
I hope he isn't too ill with it (Daniil). Bit worrying really- did he isolate before the tournament?

I've just logged into Prime to see the Sinner/Ramos-Vinolas match has started. Weather looks better.
The winner of this match plays Rafa, I think.

Isn't it strange that at each tournament one of the players gets Covid!