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

[Fizzywinegum]

New thread!

He wrote 'Roma' and a heart, I think.

Ok wasn't sure

I've said it before, but I wouldn't mind nearly as much about Rafa losing, if Djok would just get lost.

Hubi really is a nice bloke.

He is - he’s just won and all they want to ask him about is Rafa

He probably expected it, to be fair. Which is why I am glad it is someone like him , and not someone who might have been a shirty about it .

I remember when RBA beat Murray at AO , and had to sit through the whole premature obituary video thing- it was lucky it was RBA - who is a nice man, and made a lot of fans that day. Similarly, Ruud was very patient when Tsonga got the big ' This is Your Life' treatment at his retirement match at RG! .

It's time Daniil defended a title- and now that Rafa has gone, and Casper is out, I would be happy to see him do it.

Oh- there was a presentation planned!

Oh- so he is now saying he might come back to Rome!

Bad luck Jack

I had to go out after the Rafa match - does he mean that he might come back for a presentation or next year? I love Rafa but I think it might be time to say goodbye now - I’m not sure he should continue for another year

More tucking in of skirts into pants from Cristian - I wonder if Wimbledon will allow this?

I had to go out as well- and I don't really know what was going on. Apparently he said he never said it was his last year, so he didn't need a presentation- or something. I think it may have been a heat of the moment thing to say because he was particularly sad to lose in Rome - I can't imagine he will continue after this year.

She looks like Vika did- a bit 'nappy pants' .

Very odd.

Hopefully Wimbledon will ban it <hoicks bosom>.

yes hopefully wimbledon will ban the whole pant tucking in thing!

with the the Rafa thing it just seemed different in Spain - although he lost I thought he felt that he played well but I think coming across Hubi was a bit different - maybe he thinks that he said goodbye in Madrid and doesn’t want to do it all again

Haven't seen anything today and I'll miss Holger because of Eurovision unless they all walk out which wouldn't surprise me at this stage!

All the tuck talk reminds me of Daniil v Holger

It's a shame he felt he didn't play well today (only he knows if he did or not) - he seemed to start ok. The stats for the first set were close, despite the score. It's hard to guage a level, playing someone for the first time. And Hubi is a very difficult player, and quite underrated, really. Rafa maybe feels there is unfinished business in Rome - but in Madrid he did as much as he could.

I don't think he has anything to prove- he's won in Rome 10 times. No-one can take that away. And he lost to a top 10 player, not an unknown qualifier.

But it's probably a difficult loss- and he's maybe questioning if it is worth going to RG.

I am wondering what will happen when I turn on Eurovision.

Daniil and Vika clearly share a stylist

What the hell Jane
Haven't* *seen that photo of Daniil before. Was he doing that to make a point or was he just hot?

Stef and Struff are one set apiece. Stef got broken in his very first service game and totally lost it, smashed his racquet, but seems to have regained his composure.

He was taking the piss out of Holger

Oh dear

He did it to mock Holger, he was cross because Holger hit the ball at him and Daniil thought he didn’t apologise. It was in Indian Wells I think. Once seen it can’t be unseen!

Thanks. As I don't like Holger, I find that especially amusing

I still blame Holger for the whole pants tucking in thing!

I probably should be on another thread but we’ve all been freaked out by Ireland on Eurovision