TENNIS: Dubai, Golden Swing, USA

[JaneJeffer]

Now Carlos is winning the second set.
Not saying it's fixed or anything
I'm sure the tickets are very expensive

I wish I was watching - I’m stuck in weekend away/murder mystery hell!

Oh that sounds fun, Fizzy

Would rather be watching Rafa!

He seems to have decided to let Carlos have this set.

give the crowd their dollars worth and go to a third

But I'm a cynic.

It's 4-1 in the second set. Deuce.

Ooh- Rafa on the fight back this set.

Back on serve. Wel well. [Grin]

Oh it's a 10 point tie break like in doubles , rather a 3rd set. I suppose that makes sense.

I don't think this match can end in a tie...

🤣

Rafa has hit some great passing shots.

Carlos hasn't been too shabby

They might as well have played an actual 3rd set at this rate.

Well done Carlos.
Lovely to see Rafa playing again.

Rafa Jnr has his mini racquet.

That is was a very enjoyable night.
DD2 is at uni so we watched it together, with a running convo via text.
We've kind of got skin in the game because we spend so much time with family in Spain, particularly the region Carlos is from
So we have friends who have known him for donkeys years.
Yet I've been a lifelong fan of Rafa, we actually named our puppy after him.
But today we really wanted Rafa to win.
The outcome was the right one so not feeling too bitter.
Just glad that Rafa survived unscathed and looks in pretty good form for what is likely to be his last season.

And Rafa Jnr definitely stole the show for me 💕

Only realised it was on Netflix when I popped on here and saw it mentioned. Only watched from about 8-8 in the tiebreak. Good to see them both seemingly fit and well. The trophy looked like a cheap bit of tat
Well done to Katie and she's gone up about 20 places to a ranking of 27. And Alex made it there to watch after an early morning dash from Acapulco. Good week for the pair of them

kazza the trophy did look rubbish, didn't it? Like it had been flattened. In fact, it was all very Vegas, all fur coat and no knickers- the replays took ages (and the spectators got restless) and it seemed a bit of a shoddily put together affair .

But it was great to see Rafa- (both of them really), as it was all played in very good spirits and probably just enough for him to assess his level. It was a reasonable length match. He seemed to enjoy himself.

Lots of 'famous' people in the crowd. Catherine Zeta Jones was interviewed at the start (she doesn't really look like herself these days)- she is a huge Rafa fan .

It was very sweet to see the bits of Rafa Jnr- and Rafa saying he wasn't sure if he would sit and watch much, he would probably want to run around. .

Rafa is still a pretty big draw, even a year after the match was originally meant to happen- I think a lot of people were conscious is might be the last time they get to see him 'live'. .

I hope Katie starts to get the recognition she deserves too- she has been steadily improving and playing really well over the last few years- and all focus has been on Emma. Maybe it's good to be under the radar a bit, but she does deserve her time in the spotlight.

Well done Katie. I'm really pleased for her.

Can't believe Alex flew over, he will be knackered . Young love, eh?

I suppose the flight isn't far, but even so. .

I'm confused this week by when IW starts - I think the actual thing is Friday?

It looks as if it starts properly on Friday Raahh - I find these longer tournaments confusing - I’m sure they could fit them into a week if they didn’t have such big gaps between matches

I’m back home now thank goodness - just settling down to watch a replay of the Rafa match - Las Vegas looks a bit crazy - I liked the introduction by Don Draper from Mad Men

I hope I get to see Baby Rafa and his mini tennis racquet - no pressure!

It looks like Simona will be able to return to competition - her 4 year ban has been reduced to 9 months on appeal (she's already been out about 18 months.).

I do like Simona, so hope she gets to come back and play on her own terms for as long as she wants to.