TENNIS THREAD - Arrivederci Roma! Onwards to Roland Garros.

[Raahh]

VAMOS Rafa!

I nearly missed the end of that!

Yes, Rafa definitely looks a bit standing next to the statue. I like the movement in it though.

Some difficult matches in the first half of the draw.

Last Question of Sport for Sue (and Phil and Matt).

quite emotional really

I saw that Raahh and I'm not ashamed to say I had a bit of a tear in my eye at the end. I don't know how Sue got through her speech so well. And there was a little dig at being forced to go, although in a very polite Sue manner
I can't remember the last time I watched A QoS but I saw that Henners and older sportsmen (who I actually know!) were guests, so I saw it, not realising it was their last one. Glad I did!
Tim was very good, especially tennis and golf

I liked the final charades round. Matt to Tim....."what you were brilliant at"
Tim...."tennis!!"
(Answer - serve and volley)

The end of an era

Gave the verdict late this afternoon in my first case. Unfortunately, none of my jury were dismissed. We've all got to go back on Tuesday morning
And I've got my second jab on Wednesday morning.

It is the end of an era- and I'm not sure how they will replsce them. They will, of course, and the show will go on- but Sue had such great chemistry with all the captains, over the years.

They had better not try to force her off Wimbledon coverage, any time soon. Voice of Doom she may be, but she's Our Sue!

kazza rubbish about the jury service. They will still let you have your jab, won't they?

I kept geting text messages to book my second 1( from the GP)- I had it 2 weeks ago.
The receptionist then rang to remind me yesterday, and was very apologetic the system was not updated.

I could have got another sticker I suppose...

They'd better let me have my jab Raahh
If I'm selected for another trial on Tuesday, I have to write a note to the judge immediately to tell them about it

Don't quite know how but I've just got 8/8 in the Federer quiz on the BBC Sport website

kazza well done I only got 6/8. I'd be no good on QofS! I haven't watched it for ages tbh, but I'll try and catch up on Sue's last episode.

Can't believe RG starts tomorrow! V exciting. Has anyone watched any of the qualifying? I saw a bit of the men's but Ernie (main reason for watching) was already out

Still can't believe Rafa seeded 3rd

Private the seeding wouldn't be so bad, if Rafa had ended up in Medvedev's half.

The last time Djok and Rafa met before the final at RG- (if they both get that far) Djok won. And it was Rafa's birthday! So we don't want a repeat of that - though this time it will be a semi final, not a QF.

I got 8/8 in the quiz- but I guessed the number of slam finals, one.

Jane that is brilliant

Jane

Jane I got 5 out of 8!

I didn’t see QOS but might catch up the last one - they’ll probably replace it with some programme with Freddie Flintoff - poor Sue - yes they’d better not get rid of her from Wimbledon - she coped admirably with no tennis and the wheelie bin challenge last year

I also can’t believe that RG starts tomorrow - I need to check out the order of play - I also can’t believe that Rafa is seeded 3, below medvedev . Apparently Goran thinks it will be easier for Djok to beat Rafa in the semis than in the final if they both get that far

I think I’m home alone tonight - can’t wait! We’ve been to a NT place where Colin Firth came out of the lake so might watch a bit of pride and prejudice

Fizzy that's one of my 'local' (ish) NT places. It's where we always got taken to on school trips (to see the deer, mainly!).
in fact - talking of scary statues- there used to be a MASSIVE scary statue of Mr Darcy in the lake there. not been for a few years- is it still there?

It might be easier for Djok to beat Rafa if not in the final. But - he's still only beaten him once at RG- and they've met about half a dozen times. The odds are still in Rafa's favour . Like the Hunger Games .

It's really hard to ever make predictions- Rafa can go into it looking really uncertain (like 2019) - and still win. And they can change pretty much the whole tournament (2020)and he can still win. .
Rafa over 5 on clay, is very different to over 3- where he starts off to slow, and is vulnerable. I can't see a 'losing from 2 sets up scenario' happening at RG.

I am more nervous this year. I read that Forget did think about using a Wimbledon style formula to change the rankings- but decided against it.
One player it wouldn't have benefited, would have been Roger.

I still can't quite get my head around the fact RG is starting again so soon- and the first match I watched was the, now, infamous one where Azarenka walked off because of the weather (which was dire).

I'm guessing the weather is better in Paris at the moment?

Raahh I think the weather is better in Paris now than it was in October!

I wondered if the NT place might have been near to you - I’m not sure if we looked at the wrong lake - there wasn’t a scary statue at the one we were at! We met my friend who made me the Ivan Lendl dress up doll many years ago

I’m also a bit nervous about Rafa as everyone just assumes that he will win at RG but he can’t go on forever! I agree that the 5 sets allows him to get over his slow starts - hopefully everything will be ok for him - at least it shouldn’t be arctic expedition temperatures!

Yes, Lyme/Disley is about 10/11 miles from me- (my nearest NT place is Styal/Quarrey Bank - which is just up the road)
I think the scary lake statue might have been moved somewhere else, but I'm not sure . If I was Colin Firth, I would have been offended. .

I hate that Rafa can't go on forever - but I have some newbies coming up that I quite like.

I suppose it's like my Edberg days . I didn't think anyone would replace him .

Yes on further investigation I don’t think the scary Colin Firth statue is still there!

I’m also sad that Rafa can’t go on forever - I’ve not got a new favourite yet but I do like some of the new players

Lyme/Disley
I saw this when I clicked on and thought someone had Lyme Disease! I will wake up eventually today, probably at bedtime.

It sounds lovely to have a day out Fizzy. My day out was to the supermarket

You're sooo fickle raahh
No one can ever replace the delectable Stefan

Sorry about that Jane

I think Colin/mr Darcy got moved to London but don’t know where he is now

Looks like he's heading towards the Atlantic.

Oh God! That statue is awful
I loved Colin Firth as Mr Darcy and have continued to love him ever since

That statue is as bad as I remember. I'm not sure what anyone was thinking. As an homage to one of the most romantic moments in telly, it was like a horror film.
kazza Stefan is still my number 1 (don't tell Rafa).

I always wonder what a match between them would look like.

RG day! .
I have lots to do. I have promised myself I will cut the grass which is now taller than the Darcy statue because we've whispers has no rain for 2 whole days.

It won't happen.

I've just seen Azarenka is playing today- not first up- but later on . Hopefully in better weather than September.

Turned on the tv- and Eurosport are showing the 2020 final.
I know we won't get a repeat of that this time -in the final at least- but the scoreline is so satisfying to see .

I've swapped to ITV- John look like he has just woken up.