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>.

Foe did take a MTO after the second set for what looked like a back issue, which was weird given he had all the momentum at that point and didn't appear hampered in any way. It seemed like he might break Arthur in the first game of the third set, but after Arthur held he just started playing with a lot more energy and confidence, and Foe sort of folded. I think there was probably something going on with Foe but I'm not sure it would have changed the result. I also thought Foe was very gracious in defeat and the trophy ceremony was a lovely moment for both of them.

Thanks Ice - hope they both manage to stay fit and healthy for the US Open

I just got the music question on Only Connect, on the first clue.

I'm retiring now.

Fonseca is out of USO, another injury

Well done Raahh

Oh no that’s a shame about Fonseca

The US Open mixed doubles start today - although I disagree with it some of the pairings do look interesting - Djok and Aryna have got Siniakova and Patten - hopefully they’ll get their asses kicked! (I might have to watch purely for research purposes!)

It’s ridiculous that Siniakova and Patten had to go through qualifying to get their place in the mixed doubles draw. Other high profile/high ranked doubles players also in qualifying. It’s just wrong. I hope that the title is won again by doubles specialists.

Agree re doubles comments!! I have everything crossed for Djok and Sabalenka to be wiped off the court!!

Quite a few wins for the Brits in the first round of qualifying yesterday. Hopefully more today.

Magnus Norman has posted about how it's a shame they ( obviously) weren't able to play one last Grand Slam. He's phrased it in a polite Swedish way but you know he's fuming!

I can't believe Siniakova/Patton had to go through qualifying- Katarina is one of the best doubles players of the last decade.

So yes, fingers crossed one of the actual doubles pairings wins again (and I'm surprised Aryna is playing, since her singles results have been a bit down on her usual standard. I really did expect her to drop out).

In a way, the fact Aryna is still playing, makes it look like she's thinking it's a not a big deal . Which is the opposite of raising the profile of mixed doubles, it's totally reducing it to a an exhibition she is using for practice.

It's not raising the profile of mixed doubles, it's banging another nail in it's coffin. And it absolutely is an exhibition, with very rich singles players being paid vast sums of money to have a laugh and get extra practice, as you say Raahh* *
What it isn't is a bona fide Grand Slam tournament

And of course, this is all at the expense (literally!) of the lesser paid doubles players. Let them have their proper mixed doubles tournament as usual during the fortnight. If the US Open also wants the singles players, keep this as an exhibition during this week purely for singles players. Unfortunately, this will never happen because money talks!

kazza It's all rubbish. And I am pretty sure I said all the same things last year .
It makes it even worse, that the prize money is about 10 times the amount the mixed pairs get at the other 3 slams. So- all the more reason to want an actual doubles pair ro win it.

Djok hardly needs to win a share in a $1million , does he?

I agree, they could have a few singles players having a mini mixed event before hand, leave the main event during the actual fortinght. (I'm sure some tournaments do this anyway- they tend to do this as charity events though, which makes them less crass).

Ugh. I am already finding the commentary in the mixed doubles nauseating from Harrison. Henry Patton should be grateful to be allowed on court with them all, the way he's going on.

I don't really want to watch but I really want Hnery and Katarina to win.

And Aryna is wearing ridiculous jewellery. But very in keeping with the tackiness of the US Open .

Aryna's outfit is awful.

Glad to see Katerina has no longer got the heavy strapping on her knee/thigh that she was playing with earlier in the season. Just her arm now !

How are Djok and Sabalenka the top seeds? Surely the seedings shoud be based on their doubles experience? It would be, under any other circumstance.

The whole thing makes me cross

She's been wearing different versions of sheer things over a red/orange base- but this is really horrible.

It looks like a basket ball kit- and she's decided to wear the net as well.

Is Sky not covering the Andrey/Karo match which is also on now?

This match is not going the way we want it to.

Karolina is playing with Mensik this year, and it's on the Sky red button, as far as I can see. (Karo and Jakub have won the first set).

If Djok wins the mixed doubles maybe he'll be too tired to play singles?

Yes, sorry, I meant Jakub! Will see if I can find it, I have NowTV which is crap.

I was confused this year, because Andrey did play with her last year.

About the only decent thing about the US Open is the Sky coverage.

I think Katarina's arem maybe giving her more bother than I thought.

All level.

Come on Henry and Katerina!

I can't remember how the scoring works in these shortened matches. Does it go to a proper 3rd set? A tie break? Coin toss?

Tie break to 10 then.

So, not only is the tournament shorter, the actual matches are barely anything.