Tennis: Road to Turin, anyone seen Rafa?

[IceandIndigo]

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Oh I'd love a curry now

Roberto is going to be in bits at Rafa's retirement. Malaga will flood.

Me too. I've got a bag of almonds. It's a bit boring.

We all will be

I know. .

I'm stocking up on tissues.

Well done RBA! Wish I'd seen the naked tennis player trophy - not sure if I could cope with Rivals - is it any good?

I still haven't recovered from Aiden Turner in that weird tennis drama thing (I liked him in Poldark)

I've seen more footage of 'fun' at the 6 kings slam thing - it involved dancing - Carlos took one for the team by getting more involved in the dancing than the others

Fizzy I wasn't sure about Rivals- but it is ridiculously daft, and I must say I have enjoyed the 4 episodes I've seen so far (although like pretty much everyone else, I'm not sold on the actor playing Rupert, who is meant to be drop dead gorgeous and doesn't do it for me.).

The whole 6 King Slam was a bit of a strange mix- I enjoyed the tongue in cheek interviews, and Pat and Liam were great in the studio- but the event itself was just too ott. And 'Look how much money we have spent'. It was lacking any heart- but like when the US tournaments have someone warbling the National anthem, but it just feels performative, and not really genuine.

Oh wow. I've seen the dancing.

No wonder Rafa has confirmed his retirement. If I thought I'd be forced to do more of that in the future, I'd retire too. .

I loved the Jilly Cooper books but I don't have Netflix and the last adaptation was not good!

Saw this Spider-Man/Tennis thing

That is funny, Jane maybe Spidey makes the nets?

I thought that Djok would have been more involved in the dancing! Maybe he was feeling his age

The tournament was very weird - no atmosphere and obscene amounts of money (and a gold tennis racquet )

Fizzy yes, I'm surprised Djok didn't throw himself into it, and make it all about him .

Maybe he was hoping someone else would injure themselves!

Did RBA cry because he was happy to win? That’s very touching. I did not see any of the finals today.

I didn’t really enjoy the Six Kings thing. Weird atmosphere, and the flagrant display of wealth just felt a bit vulgar. I’m not sure if I saw the same dancing video, was it the one where they’re all in a circle? Daniil was about as graceful as he is on the court

Ice RBA was crying because he was happy, and I think he was glad to be able to play again after his injuries the past year.

Plus, he wasface timing his wife and dc before he got up to speak, and I think that got him choked up. He was ok before he did that .

That’s so sweet, I suppose it’s been a while since he won a title.

Casper has to play him in the first round in Basel!

Well that's probably Casper not going much further then sadly! Roberto was playing very well.( unless he's tired) he didn't look ot though, just emotional.

Casper might surprise me, but he does seem to be having a very poor second half half of the year.

Yes, he had a great start to the season, then fizzled out. He does need some more points if he wants to be sure of making the ATP finals.

I think when Casper was ill at the French Open he had some sort of parasite (I've only got this info from the tennis podcast - I'm not a doctor!) not just a run of the mill stomach bug

He hasn't seemed right since then - maybe he needs time to rest and recover properly but the tennis season isn't very conducive towards that!

Fizzy No, the tour isn't great for recovery. Casper does seem to have been ill more than he has been injured. As you say, up to RG, he was doing well.
He is just about clinging on to his WTF spot (having not played there last year). ADM or Andrey were both in the running until their seasons derailed abit- and they could overtake him in the next couple of weeks.

I was really hoping Djok wouldn't get there- but too many players behind him have had poor ends to the season, which has now let him back in.

That is 90 percent out but 100 percent in says Wispa. Wonder how long she spent thinking that one up?

I see Vienna gave Domi a send off last night, ahead of the tournament proper.

Bit odd to give Domi a pre- tournament send off- doesn't sound like they have much faith in him- but maybe he's happier with that, than doing it after a loss (which does always feel a bit strange, actually).

ADF was doing ok against Cobolli, but lost the first set, in danger of going down a break in the second.

It was more than just a presentation Raahh. I* *think he played an exhibition match vs Zverev and I saw a photo of (our) Boris wielding a racquet aswell. So had to be done separately rather than trying to shoe horn in during the tournament, after Domi has lost his final match, I'm guessing.

That makes sense kazza. I do like Domi- his career has really cut short by injuries, and he should have done so much more. I'm glad he got a slam title- even if it's not the one I would have expected. He probably would have liked a few more years - but he is doing the right thing, stopping now, rather than dragging things out I think.