Tennis- As we leave Rome (and the ombrelli) it's off to Paris- pack the parapluie!

[Raahh]

I am not paying attention to thread lengths these days .

I think I would feel better about Rafa if Djok would just bugger off, to be honest

I think you might be right Raahh

Grigor and his 80s throwback outfit has cheered me up a bit

I do like Grigor- and Altmaier reminds of an actor, and I can never remember which one.

I think that age is catching up even with Djok Raahh so fingers crossed he won’t be at the top for too long - the game is really moving on with lots of talented new players - which I think would make it even more difficult for Rafa to come back

Apparently Djok has had something weird on his chest while he’s been playing - I need to investigate further

Fizzy yes, I saw he had something stuck to him.
He's an odd man. Fingers crossed part of him drops off someone beats him this week.

It will be harder to come back, for Rafa- It's why Murray has struggled as much as he has- the game moved on in the years he was out with surgeries/injured- the players were so much younger, and there were so many that appeared he hadn't played before. Which makes a difference.

Disappointed to see they haven't put a hat on Rafa's statue for his birthday.

You know something- I think they have probably spent more time talking about Rafa this year- than they have done any other year! Usually they are desperate for him to lose!

Mats and Tim cannot sing

I agree Raahh, I feel like Rafa will be really up against it to come back. And I can't really see him being like Murray, being content just to play, even if he's not at his previous level. In light of everything that's happened since it might have made sense for him to retire alongside Roger, but I can also understand why he didn't feel ready, after the season he'd had.

I've been out all afternoon so haven't been able to watch any of the matches but it looks like the favourites mainly came through. Not too surprised Francisco beat Taylor, he's had a really good season. I hope Ons wins her match!

The thing Djok is wearing on his chest is some woo thing. I rolled my eyes so hard I may have sustained an injury

Ice no, at that point last year I don't think Rafa will have thought about retirement, but now it seems like it might have been a good time.

It all seemed to be going so well for Rafa last year - up until IW. And then the foot issues happened. Then Wimbledon seemed to be going so well- and nothing has gone right since.

I'm glad he got his second AO title though.

What we don't want is Djok to win RG again, Because then he becomes the first to win all the slams 3 times.
And we will never hear the end of that.

Maybe someone, somewhere has a voodoo doll they are sticking pins in.

Babsy
keep his short on .

There's Gaelic on now and I've let DS1 have the telly (he made dinner so I'm feeling generous).
DS2 asked me earlier if this is the tournament Rafa automatically wins and had to listen to me being sad that Rafa had an operation and it's his birthday.

I see Ons is a set down

Sometimes my dc wish they hadn't asked me a tennis question.

They kind of start backing away....

Her opponent Danilovic is really strong Jane. Not seen her before but she looks about 7 feet tall.

I do not know who will win this one, really.

Frances always makes me smile.

Even if he did beat Rafa in the US Open. I will forgive him.

I was about to say, Sascha is bouncing the ball a lot.

First set Big Foe.

And looks like Grigor may go 2 sets up soon.

Not going quite so well for Ons. but she could still pull it back.

Ons just taken the second set, what a battle!

Go Ons!

Little shimmy from Tiafoe after that shot.

Well done to Grigor- and Ons is on her way to winning too.

This Sascha/Frances could still go either way.

Well done Ons!