TENNIS THREAD- The Slams are over, and we have new Champions!

[Raahh]

Even though the commentators are still talking about Djokovic as though Medvedev hasn't won.

How much credit does Daniil deserve? All of it! He bloody won .

I'm a bit cross. Can you tell .

Sounds like one of Djok’s meals!

That's Djok's kid's' selection box.

Watched the GB doubles win over Germany. Very entertaining. Dan especially played really well and looked like he struffed Struff earlier aswell.

A few upsets aswell. Medvedev beaten and de Minaur beat Berrettini.

I've not been able to watch as much as i would like- really struggling with this cough, and not sleeping at at all. I've been trying to keep up with the scores though. Spain still doing well.

The draw was out for Rafa in Melbourne -as usual, the media making a big deal of him being in the same half of the draw as Kyrgios. Rafa will be quaking in his trainers, I'm sure. .

I watched some last night, or half watched because I was tired but too lazy to get ready for bed! Hubie was playing a Georgian whose name escapes me but he was a pleasure to watch even though he got beaten in the end but I didn't mind because I like Hubie.

A lot being made of Ugo beating Daniil. I don't know why but I get annoyed when they suddenly realise someone is good when we could have told them that

Jane Annoying, isn't it? Do they not watch anything at all? He won Halle, and had a great summer (but no doubt the general media lost interest in Halle once Federer lost ).

Suddenly the tournaments in the summer seem ages ago- and I don't want to think about them coming around again because DD1 will have finished her GCSEs, and DD2 will be nearly finished primary (and I am really not ready for that). She's also probably got surgery before that, and I'm burying my head about that too.

Good thing there will be a lot of tennis to distract me in the meantime.

And winter olympics! Curling- and the luge! Love a bit of luge action!

Although I was up all night coughing, again , I still haven't watched any tennis. I don't know if Melbourne is available to watch anywhere, but I saw that Rafa won his doubles match- it was a close one (went to 3rd set tie break) but he's no doubt rusty). Murray lost his match to Bagnis in the first round.

Evans beat Shapo in his ATP cup match - but Felix AA looks like he's about to beat Norrie in his, so all to play for, in that tie.

Oh no Raahh hope your cough gets better soon!

I don’t think the Melbourne tournament is on tv - I’m finding it difficult to find much information about it - saw that Murray lost but not sure when Rafa will be playing. Unfortunately Kyrgios has withdrawn - what a shame …

Just saw the end of Norrie losing to Felix - Evo seems to be doing well though. I’m trying to de-Christmas the house - I actually feel a bit sad to be taking the tree down - it’s lasted quite well this year and still looks quite nice (usually looks half dead by now!)

All the different tournaments in Australia and the time differences are really confusing me (doesn’t take much!)

I need to take the tree down- will do it tomorrow if I'm feeling up to it, or Thursday (I know there is debate over whether it should be the 5th or 6th at the latest- though I'm not superstitious).

My cough needs to go- I'm going away in just over a week, for my 'birthday weekend' and I don't want to be ill then. I've avoided being ill with anything other than my usual migraines for over 2 years - and this is rubbish timing. I know it's not covid- but no-one else will!

What a terrible shame about Nick, eh? That will be a disaster for the tournament, won't it? . He really is all mouth these day, and it is time the media stopped feeding him. There are now many, many younger players - who have actually won things- to focus on. He is a has-been.

I've just read that Djok is playing at the Open with a medical exemption - which, if true, really does annoy me. This whole thing has been a farce, and make a mockery of the rules. I'm not sure why he's so important anyway, there have been many times when defending champions haven't played a tournament - why would this be any different?

But- surely, even with a medical exemption he should isolate before hand (I'm guessing he isn't vaccinated) and there is less than two weeks before the open starts?

Grrr that is so annoying about Djok getting an exemption - I wonder what the reason for it is (other than him being a fig tree hugging weirdo!).

Hmm it will be interesting to see who else gets an exemption. I’m not looking forward to seeing his smug face! I hope he gets asked lots of questions about it and it puts him off his stride!

Well, Jamie Murray was asked about it, and said if it was him, he probably wouldn' be given an exemption if he wasn't vaccinated, implying it's favouritism, and Liam Broady said you have to trust the powers that be that he's been given it (for the right reasons).

Reading between the lines, I'm not sure they are convinced .

The Deputy Premier of Victoria- rather defensively, I think- has said medical exemptions are not a loophole for privileged tennis players. Which makes me think that in this case- it really is.

Djok might not get quite the heroes welcome he wants in Aus- and then he will start whinging about that, and when he loses early (hopefully) he will blame all the stress and pressure of the 'situation'.

It will be like his run in with the ATP/Kermode all over again.

We need Rafa and Roger to get together over coffee somewhere...

If I was an Australian who had suffered through all their tough lockdowns I would be raging!

Stayed up watching last night again. Sascha is playing really well and just looks like a force to be reckoned with. It was interesting to hear some of Taylor's chat to his coach trying to figure out what to do!

Matteo also in good form.

DS broke the news to me thus......"Cock's got an exemption and everyone is mad about it". Apparently, there's a female player who is double vaccinated but not allowed to play because the Australians don't recognise her Sputnik vaccine. DS didn't say who she was but I'm guessing she's Russian? Loads of Aussies livid aswell apparently.

I saw that Broady wrote that he knew this was coming when the Australian authorities first mentioned possible exemptions a month or two ago.
I agree. I think we all knew where this was heading but it doesn't make me any less disappointed in and angry at all those involved, who have allowed this travesty to happen

We can but hope that the unvaccinated one catches covid in the next fortnight.

Saw some of Norrie vs FAA earlier. I think Dan needs to play every match Although I'm not sure how he'll do vs Isner

Hope you feel better soon raahh

Thank you kazza.

It's all infuriating, isn't it? The whole drawn out Djok charade has got on my nerves.

And if it's all above board, I want to know what this magic medical exemption is. We should be able to find out.

But it all boils down to money really. Who has it , and who needs it.

We can just hope for an early loss. Or covid on the plane over

I’m still cross!

Annoyingly Djok’s insta keeps popping up on my feed but this time it’s quite amusing although probably not the reaction he was hoping for! The general gist is money talks and stay away Novax - or just get vaccinated . Tosser!

I don’t think he’ll get a good reception at the Australian Open - Rafa and Roger should definitely have a secret squirrel meeting about it just to sow the seeds of doubt!

I wish my still sore booster arm upon him and it's the right one and all.

I think this will make Djok really really unpopular (if he wasn't already) but maybe I am biased. Maybe the Aussies will be glad he has made it. I find it utterly sickening. He has been even more of a dickhead than ever throughout covid and now this.

Over night, there does seem to have been a backlash- lots of comments along the same lines of it being 'one rule for for one' .However much Greg Tiley claims there was no special treatment- it doesn't look good when only a 'handful' of exemptions were made, and wouldn't you just know his would be one of them, not Joe Bloggs , qualifier from Bognor.

Next thing, Djok will be refusing to do press conference ( to avoid questions).

And they will let him.

I think I read that they received 26 exemption requests, with "a handful" being granted, one of which was Cock. Tennys Sandgren obviously isn't vaccinated because he said he didn't bother applying for an exemption because he didn't meet any of the criteria.

It's a shame that bloke from Bognor didn't make it Raahh

I know I’m being mean but I’m pleased that there’s a backlash against Djok - why should he be treated any differently!

Australia’s PM has said that he might not be allowed to enter the country if he’s unvaccinated - should be interesting

I’m sure this wasn’t the reaction he was expecting when he announced that he was coming to Australia!

Yes why should Djokovic be treated any differently?!

If he was an unseeded/qualifier/wildcard entry, would he still be granted this "medical exemption"?

Curious

Other players have made their thoughts clear eg Jamie Murray

It's nuts they've made an exemption for Novax!