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>.

Oh no, rain.

And now it's back on serve- and raining.

Pfft.

Back out- gave me time to watch Sewing Bee .
I would like to see NuRafa to get back on track. But I think Arthur has had a re-set.

Why are the line calls so late?

Well done Rafa.

Well done NuRafa - it’s hard to believe that he’s only 19

I've just been watching an ATP wideo of bunch of playing includign Draper/Jodar and Musetti playing a rip off version on Pointless. 'Race to Zero' . They were very serious about naming types of pasta (Needless to say, Lore and Matteo Arnaldi were the best at that one).

Was a shame NuRafa lost - but it's an amazing rise up the rankings so far. Hopefully he has enough in the tank to play Cincy.
Ben Shelton obviously likes playing in Canada, he gets to defend his title.

I was surprised at the Jodar result.

I know we've said it before but it's ridiculous that Cinci starts today when they have yet to play the Canadian finals!! Cinci banking on unseeded/lower ranked players not making the semis in Canada because otherwise they wouldn't get there in time for their first round match. Even so, players still in the later rounds in Canada don't get much time to settle in, practice etc before their first Cinci match.
Utter money chasing bollocks!!

The extended Masters tournaments with their overlapping and weird start and finish times make me cross!

It does seem so weird that one tournament hasn’t finished before another one starts - Jack Draper and Norrie are both in action in Cincy today I think - hopefully it will be a bit more positive for Jack

NuRafa has played a lot of tennis recently - yes hopefully he’s got enough left in the tank

I’m trying to summon up the energy to do something but it’s too hot!

It’s not surprising players who get to the later stages of a tournament drop out of the next one when there’s such short turnaround times and potentially a lot of travel in between. It’s getting ridiculous now.

The crossover between Toronto/Cincy is so stupid- it's no wonder players choose one overr the other. It's not unusual to have tournaments close together. The clay season is all on top of each other- but this way of doing it leaves no breathing space.
Plus, so many of the 'big' names are missing with injuries etc- the organisers must be worried spectators won't turn up.

Pleased to see Iga won in Canada last night - winning a title will be a big confidence boost for her season. And nice for Ben to retain his title!

I see that yet again Venus has been given a wildcard, and yet again she lost in the first round. What’s the point?

I know you could argue that most of the more junior players who get wildcards also lose in the first round, but the money they get even for that really makes a difference for them. Venus doesn’t need the money.

I agree with you about the Venus wildcards Chessie - what’s the point?

I’ve just seen Djok’s name pop up in the Cincy order of play - I manage to forget about him and then he turns up again like a bad penny

I was just coming to comment on Venus- 14 straight singles losses, so clearly she isn't getting anything from the wild cards or she wouldn't need them.
I can't understand why she keeps putting herself through it - she's either got a massive ego, and thinks tournaments are falling over themselves to have her, or no pride at all.

I felt like that when I saw the draw. He has 'nightmare' draw according to the Express, which probably means he will somehow end up in the final.

Yep to all of the above re Venus. It's now gone way beyond a joke!

Arthur Fery playing later. I really hope he gets a win but it's difficult when you have one absolutely astounding good tournament which shoots you up the rankings and then you have to live in the real world again.

Yes, I hope Arthur continues to do well but he’s now got the Raducanu problem of being hyped up all the time. Hopefully he can shut all that out.

Arthur needs to avoid getting injured which seems to be happening to everyone who shows promise now

Venus should know what it’s like to be a young player who could do with the money or has she forgotten?

It feels a bit arrogant, Jane- like she's so famous and important, any tournament shoud be glad to have her. But that's the Williams' sisters in a nutshell.

The organisers are indulging this- and it's not fair on up and coming players.

I hope Arthur can stay grounded, not get ahead of himself, and stay healthy. He's won a few matches. That's great. But he's still got a way to go.

I’ve literally just sat down to watch the tennis and play is suspended due to the threat of lightning!

I can smell someone having a BBQ - I must have spent too much time on Mumsnet as this has made me cross!

Fizzy

I’ve just put it on and of course it’s Djokovic

What has he got stuck all over himself?

djock up to his usual tricks again, if he ain’t got the stamina , he should retire 🙄🙄