Tennis: Road to Turin, anyone seen Rafa?

[IceandIndigo]

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it is mad that there are people the same age as the legends still playing tournaments

I must say Rafa’s retirement announcement is making me irrationally annoyed that we still have to suffer Djokovic.

Yes, Ice really Djok should retire too. End of the Big 3 era.
Let's start 2025 a clean slate, a new dawn for the (relative) newbies. .

But he won't because he would probably be the only one crying at his send off party. And all the daft arm stuff, and violin crap.

He knows no-one would be sobbing like they were for Roger , and did in Madrid/will do for Rafa.

Apparently Djok has said that he will be at Rafa's swan song in person - why? I don't want him muscling in on Rafa's farewell - he'll probably do some fake tears thinking it will be like Roger and Rafa when Rog retired

All of the recent tennis retirements have been emotional in different ways but I won't be shedding any tears when Djok does finally retire

He'll probably try to hold Rafa's hand

Hand holding and crocodile tears!

I hope Rafa gets a restraining order.

There will certainly be a lot of people celebrating his retirement, but not for the reasons he thinks.

Earlier in the year when he was playing badly I was hopeful, but now he seems to have found some form I don’t think he’s going anywhere. I don’t think his ego can take too many losses to Sincaraz in big tournaments though, so hopefully those continue.

That picture still makes me well up.

I've got that picture on my kitchen notice board (as well as Rafa in his pants )

I wouldn't mind if Roger turned up to Rafa's farewell as I think they are genuinely friends but not sure that Djok would be as welcome

If Roger turns up there might be another weepfest, I'm not sure if I can handle that again! I finally got around to watching Roger's last 10 days documentary the other day, and ahead of his last match he talks a lot about whether he's going to manage to hold back the tears. He says there's two people who he knows if he sees them getting emotional that's going to cause him to lose it, Mirka and Rafa, and that was definitely the case!

Roger and Rafa definitely have a friendship - I've always found Roger a bit smug, personally, but the interactions they have in interviews and the videos they do are genuine and funny, and you can't fake that. Since Rafa was unable to make the Laver Cup this year, I think it's probably right that Roger be there in Malaga, as a fan- because he is a fan, and a friend.

Serbia haven't made the finals of the Davis Cup, so no reason for Djok to be there as a player - but I suppose he will be expected to turn up. But the story will be Rafa.

As you say Raahh Serbia* *haven't made the finals, so I don't see why Djok should be expected to turn up/ feel the need to be there. I'm pretty sure the 'relationship' Rafa has with Djok is completely different to that which he has with Roger. I can't bear the thought of Djok gurning in the background and generally gatecrashing what should be a celebration of Rafa. Although, as I'm sure I won't find a way to watch it, I don't suppose I'll notice

Come on Jakub we're all rooting for you!!

I guess Djokovic is really upset about the Rafa news then

Go Jakub! (Checks Google translate to see what Vamos is in Czech).

Mo makes the challenges sound so dramatic

Mo makes everything sound so dramatic Jane
Just* *looked at the scores and I see Beelzebub is about to win

Couldn't bringmyself to watch all of Djok- saw the first set, but knew how it would pan out. .
Good effort from Jakub though.
Have to hope Taylor has a good day tomorrow.

Grr normal Djok service resumed

After all the excitement/trauma of yesterday has anyone noticed that Wimbledon are getting rid of linespeople and starting singles finals at 4pm?

I'm sure that will mean that some of the men's finals will finish under the roof

The 4pm start is ridiculous

I think the changes at Wimbledon were mentioned, Fizzy. I'm not really keen at all on the change to the final time. All to please tv audiences elsewhere. And it could mean very late finishes here. (Though less likely with the women's final, I suppose).
Hasn't bothered international (i.e US ) audiences - for decades, so why change now?

I feel sorry for the lines judges, though- and hate the automated line calling personally, all one note. I think it leaves only RG with them.

I still miss the net judges so I guess I don't cope well with change

no I don't like change much either

I will miss the linesman who looks like Father Christmas - hope they've all got alternative careers lined up!

Wimbledon is not really known for changing so I'm surprised about the 4pm starts all of a sudden