Buckle up possums, it’s the Australian Open!

[IceandIndigo]

New thread.

I think they will find that this backfires, if it goes ahead.

Pfft. The doubles plan is sure to go wrong- given how often we've seen players in the past ditch the doubles once they have managed a deep run in the singles.
Raducanu did it at Wimbledon and was slaughtered for ruining Andy's last tournament ( when she probably felt obliged to say yes to the mixed in the first place).

There are one or two (mainly women) that are currently able to play both singles and doubles succesfully- Paolini is doing it pretty well, and Ostapenko maybe. Gauff and Pegula have scaled back the doubles but were the top for a bit. Krejcikova, but she is without a doubles partner really.

Jordan Thomson is the only man I can think of who is relatively highly ranked and manages to play both to a high level.

As Jane says, it's not the 80s anymore, what Mac and Martina used to do isn't possible now.

Oh my, just seen Matteo’s pic. Boss definitely getting good value for their sponsorship money!

The doubles thing is disappointing, but doesn’t surprise me at all. Everything in tennis is completely driven by money now. I can’t see that many of the men’s singles players are going to be signing up,
playing BO5 is already gruelling enough.

Gosh, all this business about Rybakina and her coach is a bit disturbing, isn’t it. I hope she’s ok.

It really is,Ice. I hope she is OK too. All seems very murky indeed.

Diego Schwartzman possibly playing his last ever match in Argentina. He already defied the odds to beat Nicolas Jarry in the last round. All the best to him.

I always liked diddy Diego. Gave the commentator something to talk about, any way .

Diego has lost- but he's had some great results over his career - and he did beat Rafa in Rome (when it was played in the Autumn, in the dark).

Vamos! Diego

Yes they did bang on about his height a lot. At least now they have skiing

Ahh, Skiiing .

probably best not to talk to Andy about skiing

Poor Andy

Those halcyon days when the sun didn't set in the west

Watched the end of Diego's match on YouTube 🥹 very emotional

Gabriela Sabatini looks so good

The Rybakina story brings back a lot of memories of seeing Jelena Dokic as a tense looking teenager with an oddball father. Now we know he was abusing her terribly through her career as she has so bravely told her story.

Startup I imagine Jelena’s story is one reason the WTA has proactively intervened in the case of Elena. Even though she seems to be supporting her ex coach publicly. I was particularly saddened to hear she’s apparently in a personal relationship with him as well.

Oh, didn't know she was in a relationship with him ice!

Just caught up* *on some scores and see Ostapenko looks to have easily beaten Swiatek!

Ostapenko seems to have Iga’s number, their H2H is 5-0!

No, Iga really doesnt seem to have figured out Jelena's game at all.

Saw a clip of Iga flinging her racquet and Jelena having a little giggle

Perhaps Iga is put off by all the frills and flounces on Jelena’s dresses.

I can’t help it, I sort of love Jelena. I know she behaves badly on court sometimes but her outfits and her expressions are epic.

Lorenzo has pulled out of Buenos Aires and Holger has pulled out of Rio.

Me too. She's such a character and a one off

Hopefully nothing serious

Oh no. I did see that Lorenzo's match was a walkover for Pedro.

Hope they are are both ok.

It didn’t sound too serious, Lore said he picked up a calf strain in his last match. And Holger is still recovering from the Rotterdam
lurgy. And possibly sulking a little bit after his first round exit in Argentina.