TENNIS THREAD- we're moving on to the Hard Courts and the North American Swing. With a quick clay pit stop to win a cow or two. .

[Raahh]

I think this thread may take longer to fill than the last one.

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We seem to be getting less rain than Europe this summer. Oh they’re back!

looking at these tournaments with mountains in the background I think I should set one up here

Altitude bingo!

They’re playing the James Bond theme

Bit of Flashdance.

He's got his note book out.

Proper Austrian Disco.

More rain

It’s raining men this dj is funny

Carlos is the latest top namr to pull out of Toronto- not sure what Canada has done to upset them all . That's Carlos, Jannik, Jack, Djok - and Jordy Thompson, just in the last few days.

It’s the schedule Raahh. Silly decision to expand all the Masters tournaments to two weeks, and now there’s not enough time between Wimbledon and the start of the hard court season. I guess some of the players on that list are injured, but others are probably just making a sensible decision to manage the physical and mental load.

Wimbledon have got permission to expand I see

I agree the extended format is not really helpful (plus it gives me a headache working out when it's actually on).

It's always been the case that the top players have often ended up playing either Toronto or Cincy as well, due to the way it's scheduled.

A number of players seem to be totally burnt out, and have withdrawn from events this week. It's not good long term, so something has to give.

(And maybe dumb things like singles players playing mixed doubles tournaments they wouldn't normally play in doesn't help either <grumble>)

I'm sure the people of the village are going to be delighted.

Tim had better get to work. Going to need a much bigger car park.

Getting out my smallest violin for the residents of Wimbledon village, how will they ever cope? Two whole weeks, the horror! And now the indignity of having to host a qualifying tournament?!

Toronto and Cincy have always been close together, but there used to be 3-4 weeks between the end of Wimbledon and the start of Canada, this year it’s been reduced to 2.

I still get confused by Toronto/Montreal - because I still want to call it the Rogers Cup. I think Rogers are still one of the sponsors, but not the main one. And the fact they swap locations each year with the women.

It doesn't take much to mess with my head.

Well done Francisco - got through the match eventually, what with the rain delays.

Well done Francisco even if it’s taken you all bloody day

So much altitude chat!

Aww he’s a sweetie

I see the face painters were busy during the rain delay (and the lollipop sellers)

Why do the compères at these tournaments sound so camp?

It's funny , because a lot of the time they are announcing things to sparse crowds.

Marton looks very smart

We're getting a traditional musical interlude.

Good old Shazam

They are doing their own Austrian verson on the Mexican wave. Seems to involve flapping their arms forwards first.

If only they had been live.

Maybe for the final...