TENNIS THREAD- We bid farewell to SW19 for another year (along with AC the butterfly fancier), and prepare for the hard courts, after a detour on the European clay.

[Raahh]

Who will be the champion? Will Andre and Tim muzzle AC?

Will Eva Asderaki Moore muzzle the spectator in the crowd?

It's all coming to an end<sob>.

I'm a bit concerned Barbora won't be able to play the final, even if she gets there.

Come on Barbora! I need to go out.

Gah .
Well done Lilli.

been a good few weeks for Barbora.

Well done Lilli

So many Czech players but none of them made it to the final

Mayar Sherif had to retire in Hamburg - not sure what the injury is. Korpatsch could not look more unsympathetic if she tried.

Jane It's a shame about the Czech players- they must have thought they had a really good chance!

I find Korpatsch hard to warm to.

I don’t want to be mean but Van Assche reminds me of Beaker

Well done Luca

Beaker

Well done Luca.

I can’t unsee this now!

Come on Alex!

You can’t be losing to a muppet

Well done Luca. I love The Muppets

Well done Luca.

His eyes are lovely

The money transfer was a bit fraught

The Muppets are great!

I missed the match though. Well done Beaker Luca .

I managed to miss all of the tennis last week - I don’t think I’ve seen Van Assche but I’ll be looking out for him!

Just watching Musetti/Arnaldi in Washington - Lorenzo’s just won the first set 6-0 - hope he manages to stay fit and uninjured

Arnaldi’s retired - not sure if he’s injured or just had enough!

I see that the US Open is doing the same mixed doubles with singles players shortened format exhibition bollocks (TM Kazza) again. Not that I'm surprised, just disappointed Here's hoping the final is Patten/Siniakova vs Errani/Vavassori.

Bloody hell.
Honestly, they really learnt nothing from last year, did they??
So many of the singles players have been injured this year, why would they want to jeopardise their singles tournament by playing doubles too (if they don't usually)?
Leave it to the specialists, ffs.

I'm watching Laura Robson commentating on the Commonwealth gymnastics for TNT. She attempted the pommel horse. She was knackered after one element. .

I found the USO mixed doubles quite entertaining last year. It would be better if they just treated it as an exhibition though.

I feel a bit conflicted in all the discussions about the future of doubles because, while generally being inclined to defend it, I have to admit that I hardly ever watch it. Particularly men's doubles I just don't really enjoy.

I’m the same ice - think it should continue but don’t really watch it (although I do like watching the legends/invitation doubles).

It is annoying though when singles players enter the doubles and then pull out to prioritise their singles matches. I can understand why they do it, but it’s frustrating for their partner and just adds to the perception of doubles being ‘lesser’. Not sure what the answer is really because I wouldn’t want to prevent players from entering both (some players do manage a successful doubles career alongside singles) and I also wouldn’t want players to feel obliged to play to the point of injury (which could happen if they weren’t allowed to drop doubles to prioritise singles).

Enjoying Arthur vs NuRafa. Seems quite even so far.

Rafa is playing so well.