TENNIS: all to clay for

[JaneJeffer]

sorry

Loved seeing Daniil play so well.

kazza I'm sad about Joe- I wonder if he has mentally checked out of the game really, and could have done with a longer break .It can't be easy seeing his former partner carrying on, and doing well either.

Iga is doing Iga things today. Jess finally got a game on the board in the first set but she was looking pretty despondent.
Iga hasn't really had a great season, so this will be a boost if she can get to the semi final.

Well done Iga

Bit of a shaky start from Casper on serve.

First break for Casper.

Now don't mess it up.

Pleased to see Casper playing well after a slightly disappointing tournament in Madrid.

He is doing well- better than it started.
Looks like they are getting rain in Rome. Everyone looks frozen.

Good set.

Come on Casper.

Oh that's sad, Lore has pulled out of RG.

Oh poor Lore. He did so well last year, before retiring.

Hopefully he will recover for the grass season.

He has had so many injuries. I think it's a result of his play style unfortunately.

Tim sounds jealous that Rome might be able to get a roof fitted in 12 months.

Things take a bit longer at Wimbledon, clearly.

The wheelbarrows of clay are funny.

The really 'low tech' ways different tournaments deal with rain are fun to watch. Brushes and towels, barrows of dirt.

The break does not seem to have done Casper any favours at all. He has gone a break down.

Time to focus Casper- this match felt like it would be his for the taking before the rain came.

Somehow Karen V.2 has come out-and this set could go the way of the first- but not in Casper's favour.

Double break. Oof.

Karen is up 5-0 in about 10 minutes.

WTH, Casper.

I went to pick up DS and in the 20 minutes I was away Casper somehow lost an entire set

I know.

Maybe there's too much clay on the court now. Or he pulled a muscle pushing wheelbarrows he wasn't actually pushing wheelbarrows.

he can't afford to take a whole set to settle back into a match.

This is turning in to a bonkers match.

I no longer know what is going to happen with this match. .

Well done Casper.

I was bit worried after that second set!

Well done Casper. I only saw the first set but happy he came through!

I only saw the last set, Jasper firing on all.four cylinders

Elena is so far making this a quick match, as I wanted .
Might get chance to see NuRafa and Luciano before I fall asleep afterall.