TENNIS - high on a mountain in Torino the season comes to a close

[JaneJeffer]

Dick and Cock are not fit to be mentioned in the same breath as the saintly and delectable Stefan Raahh

kazza check out the link I put on the Sanditon thread

Sorry, kazza!

Borna Coric has won the comeback player award, which is actually well deserved, winning in Cincy was very impressive this year.

Well done Borna. One of the Croatian footballers looks very like him.

Loving these headlines

I do hope Rafa has a good year next year. This year started so well. Most of all, I hope he manages to stay fit, and injury free.

I also hope that Rafa has a good 2023 - can’t believe it will be the AO again soon - it doesn’t seem like 5 minutes since I was watching THAT final in my pjs (and sniggering at Djok being deported!)

Just seen that (our) Boris has been released from prison - he’s also going to be deported

Hope everyone is ok - can’t believe it’s Christmas soon - eek! We’ve had quite a lot of snow and ice so not been able to get out much - I’m getting lockdown vibes - wish there had been some tennis on! 🎾

Fizzy it really is scary how quickly it is all coming around again. I dont think I could sit through that AO final again in a hurray- I was so stressed.
I wish Djok still had to abide by the original terms of his deportation- and was n[t allowed back. Apparently, quite a few Australians agree- despite the constant narrative that they all love him there and are desperate to have him back.

I'd like to be in Melbourne at the moment. I don't usually feel the cold- but I have several layers on- and socks. I rarely ever wear socks in the house, so I must be cold.

Boris At least he gets to go home, and try to put all this behind him. He has made a lot of mistakes though- and doesn't seem to learn from them. Wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't find himself involved in some odd get rich quick scheme.

(But I'm holding out for the Prime documentary ).

I spent ages defrosting my ancient car this morningto take dd2 to school- far too icy to walk- but the car just kept freezing back up again.

Fizzy it really is scary how quickly it is all coming around again. I dont think I could sit through that AO final again in a hurray- I was so stressed.
I wish Djok still had to abide by the original terms of his deportation- and was n[t allowed back. Apparently, quite a few Australians agree- despite the constant narrative that they all love him there and are desperate to have him back.

I'd like to be in Melbourne at the moment. I don't usually feel the cold- but I have several layers on- and socks. I rarely ever wear socks in the house, so I must be cold.

Boris At least he gets to go home, and try to put all this behind him. He has made a lot of mistakes though- and doesn't seem to learn from them. Wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't find himself involved in some odd get rich quick scheme.

(But I'm holding out for the Prime documentary ).

I spent ages defrosting my ancient car this morningto take dd2 to school- far too icy to walk- but the car just kept freezing back up again.

Not sure why that posted twice

Yes hopefully Boris will learn from his mistakes this time but I think he is quite easily led - would love him to spill the beans on the Djok fig years

I saw a picture last week of Djok from when he was first trying to get into Australia - strange times - it is annoying that he seems to be getting preferential treatment by being allowed back in

I still remember Rafa swearing in his interview after the AO final last year - it was crazy (and very stressful!)

I haven’t been out in my car for about a week - I don’t really like driving in the snow and ice (or any weather really )

I’m hoping that it thaws soon or Christmas dinner could be a bit random

Very randomly- a thread i started about medals in the 2012 paralympics has been bumped- with a post about gutters. Which has now been deleted.

Very odd.

We are planning our Christmas food shop for Monday. It's the same list I use every year. And what Aldi hasn't got, we aren't having (though I will have to make a special trip to the fishmonger for my fish- I don't eat the meat, just cook it. ).

I hate driving - I do very short trips, and avoid it as much as I can. I have got worse as I have got older. Dark and ice is definitely not my favourite- and the dog is at the vet (umpteenth time in the past few weeks- he's had skin allergies/possible kidney stones)- really don't want to be the one to pick him up later after his scan. It's down windy roads, and I'm a wuss.

I’m not a fan of driving either Raahh - I’ve quite enjoyed being chauffeured around this week (I suppose I ought to be used to it being a lady and all

When I win the lottery, a chauffeur is top of my list.

It does seem very quick for the AO coming round again - I’m looking forward to it though, I’ve missed tennis the last few weeks. I am also very annoyed that Djok has been allowed back in. Just hope now that he doesn’t win.

Chessie I will be very annoyed if Djok wins. Though it sadly feels a bit inevitable. I'm hoping other players really step up though - might be 3rd time lucky in a final for Daniil. (I'm realistic enough to know that Rafa used up 9 lives and then some, last year [grin). Won't complain if he does win though. But in an easier way than last year, thanks.

I'm looking forward to seeing how all the 'newbies' get on. Casper was unlucky with an injury just before AO last year, so he will want to prove himself this year.

Got the new fangled United Cup first, and a few other smaller tournaments.

I’m off next week to spend Christmas with family in Auckland, can’t wait to escape from this cold! Will be catching some tennis while I’m there, Casper is playing and Holger Rune, plus Emma Raducanu in the women’s draw.

Read a hilarious story about Roger Federer trying to go for a cup of tea at Wimbledon and getting bounced by security who didn’t recognise him and didn’t believe he was a member

I gave up driving when we moved to London. DH always gets annoyed with me and tries to make me start again.

Have a good time in Auckland Ice - I’m not envious about the weather or tennis at all! Hope you you enjoy it!

Oh, enjoy Auckland and seeing your family,(and tennis) Ice .

Thanks both. I’m sure we’ll have a lovely time although I’m not looking forward to the journey, no idea how I’m going to convince DS to sit still for that long

Ooh- controversial (but nice)- Casper has won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship award, not Rafa this year. Well done Casper!

And Rafa has announced that he is splitting from his long term coach, Francisco Roig. It's been over 20 years, but I suppose he wants to move on and establish a new coaching set up - which feels a bit like setting up Rafa's retirement . But I'm trying not to think of it that way.

Well done Casper! Just seen that the Netflix tennis programme Break Point is on from 13 January - can’t wait (although hope it’s not too Kyrgios heavy - I think he’s been involved in it)

I think Stef is in it which should be entertaining - we might have to wait a bit longer for the Fig Years