TENNIS thread- We're saying good bye to Rome, and counting down to Roland Garros.

[Raahh]

Looks like the old thread is ending and I had a Jannik-panic .

Casper's match is starting much later than I expected- hopefully it's cooler. I don't think it's much cooler though.

Not sure if they will appreciate 'Under Pressure' playing in the background.

I'm coming round to the idea that Djok playing Fonseca might not be a bad idea. (And it is looking like he will win that one)
They have never played each other and Djok has been most vulnerable to losses in recent years against players he hasn't played before. The younger players don't seem to fear him in the same way the previous generation did, either.

And the crowds- if today is anything to go by, the Brazilian crowds will drive him nuts. Unless he buses in half of Serbia to fill the stadium .

Break for Casper.

Mirra seems to be back on track now..

Well done Mirra.

Casper seems to be doing ok tonight, and it looks like Sascha is having an easy time against Machac.

Under arm serve against Casper. Sneaky bugger.

They never work.

Grr Tommy Paul.

Casper is looking a lot better today- I much prefer matches where he doesn't look like he's about to keel over.

The crowd are annoying.

Let them finish the match ffs.

killjoy

Well done to Casper- really good match for him.
'Very solid'- which I always feel is commentator speak for 'boring' .

But I don't care, it was a really good. And he didn't look half dead.

Morning all,

The day has started in noisy fashion,with new French 17 year old Kouame playing Vallejo from Paraguay. He could be about to get the first set , off Adolfo's serve.

He’s having a great old time out there

He is - I feel like Gael has passed on the Showman baton.

And the commentators have just said almost exactly the same thing

<looks around >

Those poor ball kids are run ragged getting instructions from all sides.

The TNT spies are watching you

I knew that that Rachel was shifty.

Oh dear. I've just seen a clip of today's version of Osaka's outfit. She seems to have taken inspiration from the skirt from Serena's bedsheet moment.

Fashion, innit?

Laura Siegemund, rightly, questioned why Naomi was allowed to spend extra time fafffing around undressing and putting on a fashion show before their match- when ordinarily every second is counted prior to a match . How long they spend sorting out water / setting up towels etc. Now, she lost the match, and this could be construed as sour grapes (she doesn't mince her words, Laura)- but she does have a point that some players get more lee-way than others.

I watched Naomi walking onto court Raahh - she looked as if she had a bed sheet tucked into her knickers - and it was trailing in the clay! It is all a bit distracting

The Kouame match is fun

I’ve just been reading about ADF’s coach abandoning him mid tournament - apparently he just got on a plane without telling anyone!

It was a ridiculous thing- and the colour!. Who thought- you know what, a cream net curtain on red clay would be a GREAT idea! (and I bet it cost $$$$$, and can't be washed)

I read about ADF's coach- very, very strange.

Puerta was odd, even as player anyway. From memory, I think he was banned for doping offences , at least twice. I remember one from after he played Rafa in the RG final .It was one of the longest bans at the time.

Yes he was banned for doping Raahh - I hadn’t realised he’d played Rafa in the RG final - he does sound like a bit of an odd one

The Rafa doc is on Netflix tomorrow - I’m not sure if we’ll learn anything new but it will be nice to see him

Oh, I am looking forward to the Rafa doc.

No, I don't think we will learn anything too surprising. Like he was a secret party animal. But it will be nice to see him.

I have to go out for a bit- I had hoped this match would finish first.

Oh dear, Jannik is having a MTO. Hope he will be ok and can carry on. He’s so close to winning his match.

He’s back out but has lost the lead he had in the third set.