TENNIS THREAD - Arrivederci Roma! Onwards to Roland Garros.

[Raahh]

VAMOS Rafa!

I nearly missed the end of that!

But no - Jim is like a dog with a bone!

He loves to chat. Yawn.

Close match isn't it - or the first set was at least.

Am enjoying Jim/Fabrice's chat.

Dancing car wash

It is true that not that long ago, there were loads of French players in the top 50. Bit like Spain- but I think Spain are in a better position than France, they do have some younger players coming up.

And it is an expensive sport. You can't get away from that. Things like football are much more accessible (and cheaper) to get into. There are no tennis courts where I live. One of the girls in my daughter's class takes lessons at the Northern , in Didsbury (once home to a grass tournament). It is not cheap. The only other places to play around here, are within private gyms.

I think Jim might be the cure for my insomnia.

Private the dancing carwash was a joy to behold .

And the sponges . Dancing sponges.

Jane

They are a very similar age, Fabrice and Jim, so it is interesting to hear how much longer Fabrice played.

I think Fabrice is a couple of years younger.

Er....

it's night. We are watching a match.

So why is tomorrow the 'official night match'?

Does Chardy live in London? I think he does.

I think Stef has probably got this match now. He seems quite in charge.

The blob of clay on his back is bugging me.

I know Raahh I don’t understand what counts as an official night match when it’s 10.45pm in Paris right now - very strange!

Fizzy it is very odd. Did they really look at today's schedule and and not consider it might run into the night.

Or is it because they wanted a specific name for the first 'official' night match. (None of last year's matches were considered 'night' matches).
It's Serena .

Won't it be a shame if she loses.

I am not a Serena fan

Wimbledon would be difficult- they have an 11pm cut off, don't they?

Matches in Melbourne and the US Open can go on into the early hours.

Oh- it's over.

Yesterday was not a bad opening day- poor Domi, though.

Some good matches today- Ruud is playing Paire, which could be very entertaining . It's a shame the options of what to watch are limited with RG, though.
Medvedev gets started against Bublik- which might not be as easy as as he would like, since Daniil is still not that comfortable on clay. But Bublik's good run came in Madrid, Paris conditions might be different.

Part of me feels guilty about wasting a lovely sunny day, watching tv.
But only a very small part of me .

I've realised Rafa and Djok don't play til tomorrow- no doubt one of them will be a night match. And with no fans, either, due to the curfew. Seems a bit odd, under the circumstances, to go ahead with the 'planned' night session- if spectators can't be there.

Yes yesterday was good wasn't it? Stef's match turned out fairly straightforwardly in the end.

Some good match ups today. I like Bublik, he's good fun to watch. Looking forward to that one. Goffin v Mussetti should be good as well.

I think Ostapenko plays Kenin today as well, that could also be good. I'll probably have to go out somewhere at some point still cloudy here at the moment but supposed to be sunny later. Suppose I'll have to drag myself away from the TV!

Goffin/Mussetti definitely could be good- and Goffin could be in danger. The younger players are causing a lot of trouble for 'last lot of next gen' players .

I like Ostapenko- she's always so smiley.

I have walked the dog, before it gets too hot. I have a pile of ironing - but at least the grass got cut. Not stunning, still too damp, but it's better than it was. (I hate gardening).

I was hoping to see Rafa today as well . I don’t really understand having a big name for the night session when crowds aren’t allowed - seems a bit strange

Some good matches today - Benoit and Ruud should be good - can’t wait to see how big Benoit’s beard is! I think Medvedev might struggle against Bublik - if Daniil goes out that side of the draw will definitely be wide open

I’m going to try to do some gardening (weeding) before the sun comes out properly - it started off cloudy yesterday and then was boiling - think it will be the same today

Oh, it's Swiatek's birthday. That's nice.

I do like Iga.

Meanwhile, in the match they have taken off PHH might level the match at a set all, when it looked like being quite straightforward for Sinner.

DH got sunburnt yesterday so I can congratulate myself on being a lazy arse watching tennis all day and avoiding that

I've got Iga on to keep an eye on whilst I do some cleaning. I love that she is such a Rafa fangirl. Nice to have Sam on the commentary.

She is a massive Rafa fan, isn't she?
She's also a bit of a bagel queen. This set is better though.

I have been keeping up with the scores on the PHH/Sinner match- and for a little while it looked like Top knot Pierre might go 2-1 up. But Sinner seems to turning this set around.

This is where I start missing Amazon Prime (never thought I’d say that!) - itv and Eurosport never seem to show the matches I want to watch!

Fizzy it's all down to the French boradcasters, isn't it? we can only see what they show. Or something.

One thing that I always find odd in the slams (other than Wimbledon) is that they don't seem to make a 'thing' of the defending champion's match.
At Wimbledon- it's the first main match in the afternoon on the Monday (men) usually, and Tuesday for the women. But, none of the other slams seems to do that.

Here's Swiatek, for example, starting her match at 11am, Paris time. And even under 'normal' circumstance, I bet the place would be half empty.
Wimbledon 'defending champion' matches- there would be a big atmosphere, and a full house.

Aww, it's lovely to see them hugging, isn't it? they are really good friends, these two. I'm glad it was a good seconds set.

Happy birthday, Iga. .