TENNIS - When in Rome - the clay court season continues!

[Fizzywinegum]

New thread!

Come on Casper - wrap this tie break up!

Phew! That was an odd match- but got there in the end.

Well done Casper. He needs to up his game!

Yes I could have guessed @impossibletoday thanks for the article. This was an interesting comment!

"Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic bowed out of his final warm-up tournament before Roland Garros with a semi-final defeat at the Geneva Open. However, not much should be read into a 6-4, 0-6, 6-1 loss to the Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac given that the world No1 can now travel to Paris to begin his preparations on site on Saturday."

I don't trust Djok, Jane it was such a strange match. Maybe he didn't think through the timings, and in the end didn't really want to go from a final at 'just' a 250 event- to RG? (He's unlikely to be playing before Monday though).

He still goes there, without a title. And that's interesting in itself. He's downplaying his chances- but he's no fool, both Carlos and Jannik haven't been 100% recently. He knows he is still one of the main threats.

Casper definitely needs to improve on this morning if he's going to be in the mix. Not sure if it was the early start, or Cobolli caught him off guard. Will see how he does against Tomas.

I might miss the Geneva final today, since it's the FA Cup final, and a Manchester Derby, to boot. Dh will probably want the tv.

Can't really claim a Norwegian in a Swiss tennis tournament takes priority

(And if he dh to depress himself when Utd lose, that;'s up to him)

Thanks for posting the Stan article impossible A* *good read.

I just think that Djok didn’t fancy potentially playing two matches in one day just before a Grand Slam - it’s not ideal preparation for Casper either but I think he’s too nice to play strategic mind games

I keep hearing that Rafa’s match is on Monday (I hope so as it won’t interfere with wedding anniversary plans - although I’m sure DH wouldn’t mind celebrating our anniversary by watching Rafa )

I think Stan and Andy’s match is on tomorrow which I would also like to watch (hopefully it won’t be too sad )

In other important news apparently Tsitsidosa is back on which probably means that they’ll both lose in the first round

Aww bless them

The Lyon final could be a long one! Certainly has the longest names that's for sure

Bloody Sky.

Doesn't look like they are showing the Geneva final anyway.

Andy vs Stan is the night match on Chatrier tomorrow.

Oh just switch to a different final and don't bother saying anything

I am so sick of Sky, Jane.

I'm sure we would be watching Geneva if Djok had made it this far. or Murray

I’m also fed up of Sky - i need to look into getting a Discovery + monthly pass

Ruud is on Tennis TV, for those who have it. Unfortunately, I don't have time to watch, although probably a good thing, as I find Machac's shorts a bit off-putting (not in a good way)

Tomas' French isn't great you say. That'll be because he's Argentinian. They say the stupidest things

Jane . Idiots.

I'm watching on my phone. Whilst muttering darkly about tv schedules and getting annoyed.

Come on Casper! (I do like Tomas, though not his shorts, and not today ).

Madison looks like she could win this match pretty soon anyway, so maybe they will switch? (Although Sky will probably waste an hour sticking around for speeches and trophy presentations just for the hell of it).

F1 on now and I can't find Lyon on my phone so I guess that's my viewing over for today

Apparently, Rafa has said this might not be his last French Open......

Come on Casper! Great job to come back in that first set. Can’t believe he’s having to play back to back matches, I imagine he’s pretty keen to avoid a three setter here.

First set to Casper.

kazza I think he is hedging his bets. I don't think he liked the fuss really in Madrid, and swerved the whole 'party' in Rome, saying he never said he wasn't going back.

I think he probably would like a more 'low key' intimate send off, like Roger ended up with at the Laver Cup- it felt less 'in your face' than a massive slide show on Chatrier.

He wants the option to go back, if he can, I suppose.

I saw that as well kazza - as much as I love Rafa and want to keep seeing him I think it is time for him to retire (maybe he just really hates farewell presentations - although he didn’t seem to mind the Madrid one)

Sky are sticking with this not very competitive women’s match over two more interesting sounding men’s matches - hopefully they won’t spend hours on the presentation etc but they probably will! I also need to look into getting Tennis TV

Perhaps it’s also psychological? He probably wants to approach it like it’s just another match, rather than focusing on whether it’s the last one or not.