TENNIS THREAD- The Clay season continues- onwards to Paris, via Madrid and Rome...

[Raahh]

and a few smaller tournaments in between....

The big question at the moment is- will Medvedev ever win a match on clay??

Didn’t manage to see any of the Djok/Sonego match yesterday but it sounded great - well done to Lorenzo for taking it into a third set - I do hope Djok won’t be too tired for his match today

I’m definitely watching the final so it had better not rain - I’m hoping for a good, but not too stressful match and a win for Rafa (not asking for too much there!)

I am watching the Women's final- I like Pliskova- her 3rd Roma final in a row (still odd that it's not that long since the last one) but I really like Iga Swiatek- she was so lovely when she won RG.

Iga has got off to a quick start -but Pliskova has back from behind a number of times this week.

The weather there is a bit dull - I hope it doesn't rain (though that would affect Djok more)- but heavy conditions don't always suit Rafa.

I don't know how affected Djok will be by last night- probably not much- he's played epic matches before, and come back the next day. Be nice if he was affected though.

it was sad that Pliskova had to retire in the Rome final last year- it was an odd final- no fans, Halep won 6-0 in the first, and Karolina had to pull out injured in the second, so it was a bit of a let down of a final.

wow! this is an absolute horrorshow for Pliskova.
Ihope she at least gets a game.

I wouldn't want to hang around for the presentation.

Double bagel- 45 minutes.

Are the crowd booing?

oh dear.

What on Earth happened there?

Was she injured?(I didn't see it)

No idea if she was injured- she didn't seem to be- she just didn't seem to do anything. She never got going.

Iga started well, and was really focused- she did nothing werong at all. But Pliskova had a really strange attitude from the get go.

I didn't see but it sounds bizarre.

I mean, a final is a culmination of the matches she has played all week- and she has played well all week- so, it's unfair to totally criticise her today- everyone has an off day. I expect she just wants to forget it and move on.

Must be very hard to win a match in that fashion - it ws hard enough for Simona last year year, having to give a speech when Pliskova retired.

it's becoming a habit, bizarre Pliskova finals. .

He let her finish- talking over her, is a bit rude.

*could

I won't complain if Rafa does the same to Djo, though.

Maybe being in the final is just too nerve wracking for her.

Jane it might be just too soon after the last Rome final. It was very odd indeed.

It says a lot about Iga, that she didn't let it affect her, or her game. It's like playing an injured opponent I suppose- the feeling you should go easy on them. She didn't do that. Not should she have to, really.

I hope whatever is on her mind, Karolina gives herself some time to relax.

She did well to get to the final again so I hope she will focus on that.

I hope so- she had a couple of tough matches, so she can take a lot from that.

I hope Rafa can win today. I am still really glad that Sonego managed to give Djok a proper match in the end, even if he couldn't quite pull off an upset. Stef must be disappointed though.

Greg and Petch role playing as Rafa and Novak was very strange - they even had name badges on!

Come on Rafa!

The name badges were odd

VAMOS Rafa!!

Here we go! Vamos Rafa!

Doh!

I get the distinct impression they want Djok to win this, and I'm almost missing Robbie.

Nick can't wait for him to lose.