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>.

Well

This makes me sad

It just shows how quickly careers can be de-reailed. .

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/c4g3gp9k2njo

I still have my doubts that Carlos is actually going to play.

In other US open news, Stan hasn’t been given a wildcard, which is a bit shit of them.

I'm not convinced about Carlos.

And that is rubbish about Stan, as a former champion .It will be his last slam appearance, and he might not make it through qualifying.

The US Open is my least favourite slam for many reasons, and decisions like this (and the stupid mixed doubles event) are just 2 of them.

Yes, I saw that yesterday. It's really not a good look from the US Open. It's 10 years since Stan won and they're the only Slam not to give him a wildcard. Even Wimbledon gave him one and look at the fantastic match we got vs Grigor! I've never much cared for the US Open, what with the noisy, uncouth crowds, the mixed doubles exhibition bollocks and now doing the dirty on Stan, they've sunk even further in my estimation. Tossers!!

I wonder if Trump is going to the final this year 🤭

That’s rubbish for Stan I think that as a former champion he should have got a WC over Gael Monfils - the US Open is quite an annoying tournament - hopefully the Orange one won’t be invited back this year!

I can’t believe Stan didn’t get a WC! He’s a former champion! There’s been a lot of WC controversy this year.

I think Carlos will at least play the mixed doubles, but I can see him pulling out of the singles at the last minute if he didn’t feel ready. To be honest nothing would surprise me, from him winning the event to losing in R1.

I think Monfils got a wildcard due to a reciprocal arrangement with the French Open - the French, US and Australian Opens all have reciprocal arrangements with each other. This is great for those countries but it does mean there’s less chance of people from other countries getting one as once the reciprocal ones are allowed for the hosts then obviously want to give their own players a chance. I think this is why Stan lost out - it’s still shit though.

I’m not sure Stan is even entered for qualifying.

I dislike the reciprocal wild cards. Players from grand slam nations are already in a privileged position by being eligible for
wild cards at their home slam, I really don’t see why they should also get them at the other slams. I would rather see wild cards preferentially awarded to players from nations that don’t host any big tournaments.

No, I don't think Stan applied for qualifying. Probably assumed (quite rightly) that he'd be given a wildcard. The reciprocal agreement is bollocks. I'm glad Wimbledon don't deign to participate. Popyrin got one, then someone dropped out, so he got in on ranking, so another Aussie got the wildcard.

As I've been typing this, DS has said that Stan did request a wildcard. He's also posted on insta today, location New York, so clearly flew there from the Cancun tournament in hope.

Fucking fuckwits, US Open organisers

USO is definitely my least favourite slam, by some distance. Apparently the last wild card went to Patrick Kypson, a 27-year old American who I definitely couldn’t pick in a line up. They can’t even argue it went to an up and coming player.

Exactly ice

I’m waiting for the ugly vase to go for a burton

They both look nervous

Adding “box office” to the bingo card.

Oh good, it’s Mo. I feel like every other match I’ve seen in Cincy has had Greg Allensworth.

Good flip Mo is hilarious

Wow Arthur doesn’t want to hang around!

What a start from him Jane.

I find it hard to see the ball near the baseline sometimes on this court and have to wait to hear if there’s a call to know whether it’s in or out.

Do they still get to go an tour the factory- or was that only ever Grigor?

The aerial view of the main court at Cincy always makes me think of the deck of a cruise liner.