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 .

I thought so too!

Nice dig, Casper

I think they deserved it

Nice speech from Casper

I hope Casper can do well at RG - he didn't have a great tournament last year, and was injured.

Jannik is enjoying his speech anyway

I love it when Jannik gets the giggles

It still blows my mind he's only a few months older than my Ds.

If only ds had his money

You would be plagued by influencer types

True!

Casper can't open the bottle

Thanks for the new thread Raahh

Well done Jannik - I’m not sure that he really meant it when he said that he hoped Casper would have a good RG

The Ruud camp are very wholesome

Jannik’s bottle opening has improved!

Thanks for the new thread. I wasn’t able to watch the final but doesn’t sound like I missed much - the result is no surprise anyway.

Casper is supposed to be playing Geneva on Tuesday- he's drawn Brooksby (his ranking means he doesn't have a first round bye). I wonder if he will still go? He needs to bump up his points, I'm not sure when the cut off for RG seeding is. But he might not want to risk anything this close to RG- though he seems fully fit.

(I've jinxed him now, haven't I).

I think they said in commentary that he is seeded Raahh but I might be wrong ( not for the first time!).

I would be surprised if he played Geneva now but again, what do I know

I think the seeding cut off for RG is tomorrow, so Geneva points don’t count. Casper will get a top 16 seeding at least.

I am definitely turning into a right misery guts.
My first love was Bjorn Borg. Watching him play was like poetry in motion. Didn’t like McEnroe but he was a great player.
1980’s, Boris came along, same age as me, I was besotted. Never really much going on with the British men.
Some great players about but the era of Pete Sampras - wonderfully precise player, but bored me absolutely rigid.
Always loved a renegade like Goran, and Henman was the first sign of UK hope.
Then we entered the golden era where we just spoiled. Roger’s elegance, Rafa’s sheer brute force, Novak’s precision and Andy winning two Wimbledon’s. And in the midst some great players - Marat Safin being the one I always rooted for after he beat Sampras in Flushing Meadows.
Alcaraz? I miss him. He’s still not the finished article but his absolute joy and fantastic record is something.
Sinner? He could be the most talented player of all time, he’s got an interesting back story, but watching him feels like watching an AI player. I know his job is to win, and win he does, but I don’t look forward to watching him play.
I am sure he will go on to even greater heights, as long as he stays fit.
But I hope there is some equal competition for him apart from Alcaraz. He seems a lovely young man, but I just don’t get any personality from him.
I know he has an army of fans. And I’m old enough to know better…..

Yes, he was always going to be seeded- the question was where, I suppose. I know RG don't do the faffing about thing that Wimbledon used to do (basing seedings on performance rather than ranking- though I think Wimbledon scrapped that).

He needs a decent run, since we know grass is not his thing. But - AO wasn't really his favourite either- and he did ok this year .

I would be surprised if he played Geneva now(though it would be a shame for the tournament).

Hardly surprising 'defending champion' Djok isn't bothered about turning up there, but it probably doesn't suit his purpose this year.

Well done Jannik. He is indeed unstoppable.
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I’m feeling a bit jaded about the state of men’s tennis at the moment ThisJadeBear - I miss Rafa

I’ve seen lots of pictures of Grigor being presented with a birthday cake at RG but also seen that he’s in the qualifying line up which seems a bit mean! He would have probably preferred a wildcard to a cake!

Rafa is my favourite player of all time. Loved Andy because, you know, Wimbledon.
Roger started the new chapter and his elegance was beautiful.
Novak challenged the status quo and made history.
Even though they dominated there were other players I adored watching - Del Potro, Monfils, Tsonga.
In terms of centre court box moments, nobody will ever beat Babs Streisand turning up to see Agassi.
The last Olympic final was superb and I like Alcaraz very much - he has a real joy about him.
Don’t get me started on the WAGs, influencer girlfriends….
I do like watching Shelton play, Musetti…
There are some fine players.
But there are too many tournaments, it’s saturated.

Fizzy I miss Rafa, but I do think there are lot of good new players coming up, that is making the future look good. I like what I've seen of NuRafa, and there are some good rivalries lower down the rankings.
It's just unfortunate that (although I really like Jannik) the gap between him, Carlos and the rest is so big , that in the big tournaments the latter stages are just same old-same old.
(Again- I'm a hypocrite- I was happy when it was always Rafa).
It's a shame there are injuries for players like Lore, going into RG.

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I never thought there would be a player I would enjoy watching as much as Stefan Edberg- and then Rafa came along (and they couldn't be more different, playing wise)- but they share the same sporting values.

I'm just watching ADF playing Moutet in Hamburg- this could have potential. .

Corentin is getting quite animated.

Yes I know Raahh - hopefully someone will come along soon to replace Rafa - I didn’t think anyone could replace Lendl in my affections

It’s just a shame that some of the up and coming players that I liked do seem to be injured like Lore and Fils

It just all seems a bit predictable these days but yes I agree that there are some interesting rivalries lower down the rankings - ADF and Moutet could definitely be interesting!

There is no commentarty on this match, but Corentin has been very chatty (mostly with himself and the umpire ).

There's hardly anyone watching.