TENNIS: Madrid, Rome and on to Paris

[JaneJeffer]

Who's going to get the last quarter final place?

Not looking good.

And if RG doesn't go to plan-

VAMOS Carlos!

I would be jumping over the seats to get that towel

I'm so gutted. It started so, so well.

I really thought it would be over quickly.

I hope it's nothing too serious.

No Rafa, no Ireland in the Eurovision
Bummer

It’s not been a good night Jane

Rafa interview on now. He's taking his doctor to RG!

"Try to keep going even if it's not easy for me"

I am feeling a bit deflated this morning, and hope than Rafa is able to come back from this. He said last this that the foot issue was something that would never go away, so I suppose it is just a case of when it flares up badly. And it chose now.
The rib injury was the worst thing, because he was on such a good run at the time, if he could have just carried on then, it would have been great.

It's all getting that air of 'Djok's going to win everything' inevitability, now. Fingers crossed Uncle Toni can give Felix some tips on how to crush him

Morning all, that match was so horrible to watch last night - poor Rafa he looked in so much pain, I know he hates doing it but I was willing him to just stop the match.
Not looking good for RG - I really enjoyed the AO this year when it wasn't all about Djokovic, i'm feeling a bit blah about it now this morning - but fingers crossed Rafa can make some sort of recovery or if not Carlos can at least challenge.

I’m feeling a bit deflated as well - it was horrible watching poor Rafa last night Mama - I think he probably should have retired from the match

i think the worrying thing is that it’s not an actual injury that will get better - it just flares up

hopefully Felix will win against Djok - I really don’t want to see him winning everything

I just hope someone beats Djok now. I don't want to see his horrible smug face and fake sympathy for Rafa. I don't know if Felix can do it. Maybe Denis can because he seems to be in some kind of wild mood at this tournament.

Mama I feel the same, re-AO, and Djok. I hate the idea of Djok going to RG and being 'the favourite'- and if Rafa isn't there, or loses early, then I definitely would love Carlos to win it - because that would really put Djok's nose out.

Rafa had such a great start to the year, and now it feels like he has sacrificed his best surface in order to do that (although I am so glad he won in Australia). It might have been better to skip IW. (Probably wouldn't be saying that, if he'd actually beaten Taylor in the final- but he didn't look comfortable all week there, really).

I hope it's not a repeat of last year, with his year ending half way through .

Denis seems to be out to prove something this week- he plays Ruus next, and though i like Casper, I think Denis would have a better chance against Djok.
Though having just said that- Djok has a 7-0 hth against him.

First time for everything though, right?

I'd love to be in Rome. The weather has been awful here this week. It's bloody freezing.

We've had odd weather, we've had days where it has started off cold and very wet- and then the day has ended really hot.
It's hard to know what to wear.

I love when a match ends and you can see everyone wandering around. It's very relaxing to watch until Petch comes along to disturb my peace.

I get a scare when I've been watching a 'quiet' match and then there is suddenly talking

What happened there? I could hear all the crowd noise but wasn't looking.

Lovely of Stef to send his water up

Oh what a dilemma

Well done Stef. Hard to play when the crowd are against you.

Dani needs to cover up. She looks really sunburnt!

Well done Iga