Buckle up possums, it’s the Australian Open!

[IceandIndigo]

New thread.

surname of the person who Olly Murs came second to on X Factor

Joe McElderry!

Whatever happened to him?

I miss X Factor .

He was on Robson Green's Weekend Escapes programme recently looking more chubby than previously!

I suppose it's quite a while ago now. I'm in denial.

Me too 😭

Joe McElderry is in musicals now! He’s playing Pharoah in Joseph

uk.josephthemusical.com/cast-creative

He was always very 'musical theatre' Chessie so that makes sense. I remember him winning the Opera show he was on (or have I made that up?).

Had to double check I was on the right thread!
Yep, it's the tennis thread

I prefer to think of it as the whatever comes into my head thread

The purple and grey court in Merida is so soothing to look at.

We love to derail our own thread. I do often use it just to waffle.
Casper had stomach issues and withdrew from his match in Acapulco- I'm beginning to wonder what these players eat.

Need to stick to pasta- worked for Rafa.

Sascha also lost in Acapulco- and they were the top seeds. And Holger also withdrew. Maybe he had what Casper had.

It means Tomas Machac of the Short shorts is the highest ranked player left over there( I think).

( I think Holger retired during the matchvwith continuing knee problems, a worry going into the bigger tournaments, unless he just doesn't want to risk making it worse).

Actually it was food poisoning- don't know why I thought it was his knee!

I think I remember Jamie Murray having to withdraw from a tournament after having a dodgy oyster or something and Judy was like.....what were you thinking, eating oysters, idiot!!!

Surely everyone knows you stay away from anything seafoody before any vitally important event?!

I know! They have teams of people around them -they must have someone who advises them on diet. And what not to eat abroad. (Though, you know, common sense...)

Surely Holger's mum tests everything first .

Marin playing Felix AA. The field in Dubai is as open as Acapulco, with all the upsets. Not of the stomach kind there, though.

I set all for Marin and Felix- come on Marin!

Felix has stepped it up this set. I don't mind him winning, but it wouls have really helped Marin to get the points (I think he has now run out of tournaments he can get into via protected ranking0.

Well done Felix. Shame for Marin, but some really positive play this week.

I like the idea of this thread being a whatever comes into my head thread

Good to see Marin back (for a bit anyway)

Sascha is not having a good time in South America - I remember Lerner from the AO - he was a fun watch

There do seem to be a lot of upset stomachs in the tennis world (even when the Phantom Poisoner is not around!) - I would definitely steer clear of the seafood!

I'm hoping to watch the Stef/Matteo match later (depending on the whims of Sky)

What the fuck is happening?

I think Daniil was angry at losing the set (he ought to have won the match)- not sure what he is supposed to have said. This umpire seems a bit grumpy anyway.

So Daniil will either come back fighting, or will have lost his head totally.

He needs to have words with Andrey.

I wish Daniil's pocket /the ball in it, was in a different position. Not to mention the fact he keeps touching it.

Well done to Tallon- it really should have been Daniil's match to be honest, he played very well for most of it.

Raahh I didn't notice the ball manhandling

Isn't he the umpire who had a heart attack? He should just chill out and ignore Daniil's ramblings.

I went out with the dog and came back to a very pretty match indeed.