Tennis [tennis]. Covid, Kygrios, coupling.......

[magimedi]

Here ya go!

Bon soir, mes amis

I haven't been able to watch any of the Turin matches so far, but the results are all pretty much what I was expecting, except for Casper/Felix which was a bit of a surprise given recent form.

I see that Australia have unfortunately decided to let Djok in next year.

Ice i have just seen the Australian Open news. I am not impressed. Will they over turn the ban for all the other people they have deported? Of course not. .

Oh, ffs Really? Spineless b*tards!!
I don't know why I'm surprised.

Oh no that’s rubbish - boo! I enjoyed tennis a lot more when Djok wasn’t playing - he will think that he was right all along now

kazza they are spineless, and it is infuriating that the smug fig-eater will get to play. Just the thought ofhis smug face...

I have just switched on. I really want Rafa to get through this match. But I'm not feeling too hopeful. But I am ready to be proved wrong. VAMOS! (Sorry Felix).

Fizzy that's the thing, isnt it- Djok will think he has won some moral victory.

'Uncle Toni - formerly the coach of Rafa , still the Uncle of Rafa' Thanks Catherine

Ok altitude has already been mentioned!

Greg is looking at Tim in a strange way when he’s talking

Rafa running up and down the corridor

Yes, we've had altitude already. And court speed.

Aww- look at his mascot- she is so cute!!

On paper Rafa is favourite- but Felix is in better form coming into the tournament. Just as Fritz was, and even Ruud.
Rafa's preparation, with the type of court, means he is probably the underdog really.

And we have Mo in the house

I need this over by 2.50, if you don't mind, Rafa.

With a win.

No pressure.

Oh no not Mo - hope he’s improved his umpiring skills!

hope that Rafa’s got the right sort of towels!

Rafa’s mascot was very cute - I’m still not convinced about the shorts though!

They are making a big deal of Uncle Toni being in Felix's box. Well, Greg and Catherine are.

Tim doesn't think it should matter.

Maybe he will swap seats after a set?

How many times is Catherine going to say uncle Toni Nadal?

Fizzy she has to use up her quota

Otherwise, she will have to say 'altitude' again.

I am beginning to wish Rafa had finished the season after the US Open. It's like the more he plays now, the worse the results get, and all the great things he did at the start of the year are forgotten.

i think you’re probably right Raahh - on the tennis podcast they were saying that Rafa could be using these tournaments as a sort of fact finding mission for when he comes back properly but I’m not sure - I think he would have been better to rest and come back when he’s properly fit.

I must admit when I watch him I’m not really expecting him to win - which is sad

Fizzy for all his titles, I very rarely watch Rafa and think 'he's definitely going to win this' Not in the same way that winning always seemed inevitable for Roger, and seems to be for Djok. Even at RG. I always have doubts- it's really odd.

The US Open Gasquet match was one of the most recent, easy. matches he has played. But there really haven't been many of those this year.

(I'm also sick of the 'he's lost 3 in a row for the first time since 2009' stat. It's getting like 'the Wimbledon list').

My Prime has decided it's having a day off "something went wrong" yeah what though so I can try to fix it

Jane I hate it when Prime says that..

Come on Rafa- find a break of serve from somewhere!

What, Robbie? the altitude isn't even that much? It's half of Madrid? So why do they keep making such a big deal about it?

If this goes to a tie break, I feel like it will go the same way as the Fritz match.

Rafa- to be clear- when I said break of serve, I meant you break him- not the other way around.

Aargh I'm score watching Vamos!