Tennis: Here we go again, all the slams ahead of us.

[magimedi]

Uninspired title but looking forward to the new year.............. as long as a certain cock does not win 'em all!

[Raahh]

kazza the annoying thing about this - is this makes it look like it was his 'choice'. He was never going to be allowed to play, at this point in time. He just left things as late as possible to finally give up trying to find a loop hole..

[Raahh]

Ice it's farcical, isn't it? But Djok has a very high opinion of himself- and is surrounded by people who think he's untouchable and some kind of victim. .

[kazzaD66]

I know Raahh but everyone knows the reason why and the result is, he won't be there (however it is spun) and that's the main thing, as far as I'm concerned. At least this time he's 'withdrawn' before the draw, so the whole thing won't be screwed

[Fizzywinegum]

So pleased that they didn’t find a ‘loophole’ for Djok - why should he be treated any differently? No one likes him anyway - I won’t miss him!

Fair enough if he wants to stick by his (silly) principles but don’t expect special treatment (grr!)

Will hopefully try to watch some tennis (when I work out when it actually starts and what the time difference is)

[Raahh]

FIzzy IW always confuses me- because it lasts longer normal Masters, (and has a draw as big as a slam)and even though the dates say it starts today- that's the qualifying matches. I think it starts 'properly' on Wednesday.

[Fizzywinegum]

I’ve just been looking Raahh - yes it seems to have started today but then doesn’t start properly until later in the week - I seem to remember that the women’s tournament has different start and finish dates to the men’s

As if the time difference isn’t confusing enough!

[Raahh]

Yes, I saw some of the qualifying matches listed. It's got a smaller draw than a slam- 96, rather than 128- so goes on for a week and a half- and the women do seem to play to a different schedule.

In theory I should be able to watch stuff- same as I do the US Open, but it doesn't always work out that way.

[ChessieFL]

Hopefully we won’t just get loads of commentary talking about the fact Djok isn’t there, instead of whoever is actually playing.

[Raahh]

Chessie that's another thing, isn't it? Even when he's not there, the commentators spend too much time moaning about how unfair it is .

[ChessieFL]

Yes, it’s really annoying.

[Raahh]

I have been looking at some of the scores from the first day proper of IW. Nothing very interesting- closest thing to an upset I suppose was Isner losing
I feel like I haven't been able to watch anything properly for ages. I have a feeling it will be Monte Carlo before I do!

[Fizzywinegum]

I think Stan is playing today at a reasonable time and Andy Murray a bit later but I know you’re not a fan Raahh

We’ve got really deep snow here and it’s still coming down! DS1 is not impressed - he’s supposed to be going to a gig in Manchester but don’t think he’ll be able to get there!

Monte Carlo feels like a long way away - hopefully Rafa will be there

[Raahh]

Fizzy you know me well.

Come on Stan !

(Tricky match for Murray, in all seriousness. Etcheverry has just been in the Chile final, and had some good results there).

We have had nothing much in the way of snow here in my bit of Manchester (10 miles ish from the city centre) It keeps trying, but it's been mainly sleet- so if your DS can at least get here, he shouldn't get stranded. No real snow in the centre either yet(dd1 made it into college ok).


I am not a snow fan. It just causes too many problems, and the traffic round here is horrendous at the sign of the first flake.


I have everything crossed for Rafa making it to Monte Carlo. He needs some matches under his belt.

[Fizzywinegum]

Thanks for the weather info Raahh

It’s still snowing hard here so I think that will be the difficulty but I’ll let him know

Might watch a bit of Stan later

[Raahh]

Just call me Wincy Willis

DD2 was trying to get the day off this morning (a number of her classmates stayed off last time it snowed).
Since it a) hasn't even snowed properly and b) her school is less than a mile away, that was not happening

[Fizzywinegum]

I’ve been relegated to the front room as everyone is working from home - just watching a bit of Doctors - used to watch it all the time when the DCs were little but not watched it for years!

[Raahh]

Fizzy it's pretty rubbish at the moment. Val (the one with the painting cat) has left- and there are 2 new characters who are so awful, it is making me almost not want to watch. But I do - out of habit

[Fizzywinegum]

Yes it’s not improved much Raahh - I’m still fascinated by the painting cat

Just seen that Clare Balding is going to be the main presenter for Wimbledon - come back Sue!

[Raahh]

Fizzy when Val 'left' one of the characters bought her last 'cat' painting for the surgery. Which was nice.

I'm running out of things to watch. I have been on a bit of a binge watch marathon lately- watching things that, for some reason, passed me by the first time round. So far - I have now caught up with Doc Martin, Death in Paradise, Strike, Shetland and Endeavor.

I need the 'day time' tennis to start .

[Raahh]

And yes, Clare was announced a while back- I think Isa is still going to be involved though. (I couldn't warm to her, I'm afraid- maybe she will improve). I've been reading rumblings about scrapping Today at Wimbledon- it's never really worked since it has been on at 8pm- and half the matches they show, are still playing . Plus, they seem to be trying to push more of a day/evening match split on the show courts- which will mean even later finishes.

There are also rumours of Roger co-hosting (since they can't have 'our' Boris back).

I'm not sure about that really. Sue won't be happy- she's there all that time- and Roger goes and retires and hosts the show once she leaves!

[Fizzywinegum]

at the cat painting

Yes Today at Wimbledon does seem to be coming more redundant - I think they only did a couple of episodes last year - I wonder if Wimbledon will ever move to a day/night session split - hopefully not and there is the curfew as well

Hmm I’m not sure about Roger presenting (and yes Sue will be gutted) - I prefer Boris and Mac as they are not scared of being controversial and unpredictable (although I don’t think Sue was impressed when Boris swore!)

[JaneJeffer]

Bring back late TAW with Inverdale! And stop trying to modernise Wimbledon! <grumpy>

We've got nonstick sideways snow here.

[Fizzywinegum]

I agree with the late TAW but not Inverdale Jane (used to love Des and Jerry)

The snow seems to be getting worse here - it’s quite deep!

[kazzaD66]

The Clare Balding announcement has got a mixed reception on the Wimbledon insta
A lot of people saying it should have gone to an ex tennis player (although no one seemed to mention the butterfly fancier ).
Laura Robson and the fragrant Annabel were two names, even Boris Someone even suggested Jo Konta I'm not a fan of CB but I draw the line at Konta

As I've said before, I loved Des and Gerry! Even Inverdale was better on TAW than Balding! It's going to take some getting used to!

[Fizzywinegum]

I thought that Laura Robson was good on the AO coverage kazza - I’m not a fan of Jo Konta

Oh no - the butterfly fancier - that would have been bad!

I used to quite like Clare but I don’t really like her on Wimbledon - she gets a bit shouty and overexcited and seems quite keen to dumb things down