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

[JaneJeffer]

Malheuresement non!

Aah Rafa what would we do without you?

I do hope Rafa can pull himself together, game wise.
He is as circumspect as ever- he lost his first couple of matches back last year, in Dubai, he said, so isn't worried.
It does feel different this year.

The spectre of Djok doesn't help -and I am sick of reading how much the Aussies love him/he's been welcomed back- the whole thing last year was of his own making. He chose not to be vaccinated, and couldn't play. He claimed he accepted that. He didn't - he's never shut up about it.

I'm getting cross all over again

Apparently, the US Govt have extended the time period during which international visitors must be vaccinated. If they stand by this and Cock doesn't find some loophole, it means he misses Indian Wells and Miami. Hoorah!!
Shame about the Brits losing to the US today. Dan really should have beaten Tiafoe in straight sets. Still, the joy and surprise on Harriet's face when she aced Fritz in the mixed doubles was brilliant!

kazza I was reading about Djok and the covid situation earlier- so a small bit of good news I'm hoping it stands and he doesn't get to go. With a bit of luck, it will continue all year.

We will have to put up with all the players who have come out of the woodwork to say tournaments are less valid without him though. (Does he pay these people?)

We still have no reliable internet, (and engineer is coming Saturday ) so have not watched anything on Prime all week. Virgin are off my Christmas list.

Happy New Year to all. Terrible weather for tennis here in Auckland, we’re having a tropical storm and they’ve had to move most of the play indoors. Unfortunately Emma had to retire with another injury. Really felt sorry for her, you could see how frustrated she was. Hopefully it’s nothing major.

The US Covid/immigration regulations are the gift that just keeps giving!

Raahh I sympathise with you re VirginMedia, they are honestly one of the worst companies I’ve ever dealt with.

Just been reading about Emma. She really is unlucky! The only positive is that it's a new and obvious injury, rather than she retired because of some obscure existing niggle, which seemed to happen a lot last year. She was fine and then she rolled her ankle during a rally. Hopefully it hasn't done too much damage, although bad timing ahead of the Australian Open, but she was obviously really upset.

Ash Barti is pregnant

Oh, that is lovely, Jane. I think people are still in shock at how she retired last year (can't believe it has already been a year).

Saw some cute picture of Rafa out and about with mini Rafa.

That’s lovely news Jane

Where we’re the pictures of mini Rafa Raahh? He’s a very well travelled baby already!

I think I’ve just seen a photo of baby Rafa getting on a yacht - like father, like son

Yes, those were the pictures- going on a boat trip round Sidney. Finally got a bit of look of baby Rafa's face

Aahh, lovely news about Ash. Looked at her Instagram and saw she went to New Zealand last summer, guessing for her honeymoon. Seeing the pics took me back to when I visited. She also visited Stonehenge, not that far from me!

Also sought out the Rafa photos. I notice Xisca is the one lugging the huge rucksack on her back. I guess Rafa's excuse is he doesn't want to injure himself
Still don't like it when a child is given the parent's name. And it's a big name to live up to!!
That 'boat' though! A few million pounds of super cruiser there!!

Just seen that Alcaraz is injured so has had to pull out of the Australian Open. That’s not good. Obviously a big blow for him but I was hoping he would be one of the big challengers to Djok.

Venus Williams is also injured and has had to pull out which is a shame for her after getting a wildcard.

It's bad news about Alcaraz- Australia wasn't that great for him last year , so he's not got much to lose. But I do wonder if realistically anyone can challenge Djok in Melbourne if he's playing well enough. Sadly.

It could be a big opportunity for someone this year- if Djok shows any weakness- I think Daniil has gone off the boil a bit, but he has played well in Melbourne in the past - so maybe he can find his A game. Casper didn't play last year- this could be his opportunity to get to number 1.

Obviously I would love Rafa to win it- but I'm not looking past the first week, really, if I'm honest. One round at a time.

Iga is also injured (having lost to Pegula in the United Cup)- and out of the second Adelaide tournament. Hopefully she will be fit for AO.

Oh no Chessie

pftt. Just seen that Djok won in Adelaide- Seb Korda had a really close match with him7/6 6/7 - but it was 6-4 in the 3rd set.

Grr

Jane it's going to be like Covid never happened, and Djok will win everything, won't he? except for the US stuff that he can't go to. And hopefully all the clay season.

Just Australia, with a bit of luck.

He was ranting at someone in his box and got them chucked out, apparently, after he lost the first set today. And he had an 'injury ' yesterday that miraculously got better when it served the purpose of rattling Daniil.

It's on the first week of January and Djok has irritated me intensely already

I was traumatised when my new Tennishead magazine arrived and I was flicking through and saw a full page match photo of Djok sprawling in a chair with his top off. Nobody needs to see that.

Condolences Chessie

Let's hope he runs out of magic juice

Chessie! Something like that should come in plain brown wrapping.
With a warning sticker.

Like the ones we used to have to put on cds with explicit lyrics.

There's still time for Djok to trip and break a bone/get bitten by massive Aussie spider/decide to go home .

We can hope, anyway.

Shame he didn't employ Boris as his tax expert instead of coach

I've just read that Rafa intends to play in Dubai for the first time in 15 years in February. This is surprising for a number of reasons (to me)- it's not a tournament he has played much- 4 times won it once, - and it's one that was dominated then by Roger and Djok. He has previously played Acapulco that week- so I wonder why he's changed? I assumed he had ditched Acapulco from the schedule, because he was scaling things down- he played a lot last year at the start - and ended up injured at IW and nearly scuppered his clay season. But adding a tournament seems to suggest otherwise .

I doubt it's for the appearance money (I mean ,babies are expensive, but Rafa is not about to flog his last yacht...)

Maybe he no longer fancies the pear trophy and the sombrero in Acapulco, wants a change? The Dubai trophy is boat thing, iirc