Really enjoyable match between Troicki and the lovely warrior Ferrer. Ferrer won but it went down to the wire.

I've missed him this year with all his injuries. I don't think that he's long for the tour. Mind you a friend who follows him passionately and has 'connections' was suggesting a few years ago that he and Rafa were both thinking of retiring. Can't remember when exactly but I think it was around the time Rafa did the CGS. I don't doubt her but I reckon that they both realised you're a long time retired so if you can still compete on a level that is acceptable to you especially if injuries have played a part, heck why not carry on. As a fan, I hate that they both often play through pain and injections etc (before anyone jumps at me, I am sure that others do as well and it's their choice but I am not fans of others...).

I will miss Ferrer when he retires - I just love it when he lines up for his brilliant inside out forehand. It's one of my favourite shots in tennis.

Apologies for late responses but have been in hospital...


D'ya know what Jenny? I am really glad he managed to play the Olympics
I remember how devastated he was as the chosen flag bearer in 2012. This time he carried the flag and won gold with one of his best mates. Other than with winning the US, what else could have come even close for him at this stage of the season after having to pull out of the French?


I think that the two of them genuinely respect and probably like each other. I think they are very different people so I doubt they could be called friends perhaps in the way that I suspect say Rafa and Andy are but definitely mutual respect and a degree of 'affection' for want of a better word.


She looked mighty fine at the F1 grand prix on Sunday but I guess 'having a shoulder injury' doesn't stop you watching men driving cars around a circuit. Although I would be so bored that I would be running to the nearest tennis court....



Thank you to both of you. I suffer from health issues as I suspect that others on this thread do so I can never easily predict whether I will be able to make a particular event or not. Not helped by Rafa being so injury prone. That said, I am telling myself that at least one of the European jaunts will work out. Also, even if Rafa isn't there, I can see some tennis and do some sightseeing as I have never been to Rome or Barcelona. To paraphrase Maria, it could be worse with me stuck in Wuhan....
.

I hope you are feeling a bit better Jewels!

I'm happy he played the Olympics too, seeing him so happy with the flag was one of the highlights of the year. But then why did he insist on playing afterwards? He should have had a rest but no, that's where I despair.

I'm gutted Kerber is playing Aga, I wish that was the final. I have to cheer on Aga though, i'd love her to defend the title.

Kuzzy looking good in first semi. I hope she wins as I have always liked her.
Don't much care for Angie or Aga.
Is the attractive woman in Kuzzy's box her mother?

Do you mean Myskina.

Sveta is running on fumes here, just think pome will take this easily from here. Annoying as hell.

Hey Jewels, hope you're keeping well.

The bromance between Rafa and Marc was a highlight of the Olympics. Rafa's so passionate about representing Spain and wanting to compete in everything on offer, to the point where he had nothing left in the tank for the rest of the season. Olympics or bust in a sense. I hope all those that dodged it with their pithy excuses were watching!

Watching Mercedes just cruising round and round is very dull at the minute and the only free spirited racer (Verstappen) is slowly becoming forced to be another cookie cutter auto-drone. I digress...

Sveta the tennis terminator still battling hard, breaking back both times. Really needs this tiebreak though.

Think that long point at 1-0 to Kuzzy in this breaker will be key, seemed to drain the last piece of energy, but you still can't write her off, but it's not really a fair fight now with the amount of tennis in Sveta's legs.

And there we go, it's going the distance. Sveta will fight to the very end I'm sure, but it's looking ominous now Cibulkova's got the bit between her teeth and how on the brink of exhaustion Sveta must be by now with Moscow and all these 3-setters.

I am finding the Martina love in a bit much. A great player I know but they are too deferential to her.

Re my question further back I think it's Domi's mother.

Not much of a handshake. Kuzzy was basically like right time for bed, I'll let her crack on.

This pretty much sums up my thoughts:

"Dave Gertler ‏@davegertler 36m36 minutes ago
If I had to assemble an army to fight a war, I would probably start with Kuznetsova and Cibulkova."

so pissed off, bad sporting day for me so far, I think i'll buy some fish and chips to help me through.

Not Aga's day today, being forced to play way beyond her means to make anything happen.

Hopefully Kerber will round off her incredible season with the Singapore title.

Ah OK. Probably wise move. Despite a lot of bad losses and some injuries this year he's still pretty safe in the top 10 which is good new for Nadal fans...

Ferrer's had to pull out of Vienna so Murray is going to play an exhibition match with
Austria's Jurgen Melzer.

The only report I could find is stating a left leg injury and that doctor's advised him to pull
out.

Makes a nice change Murray getting a W/O to a final

Andy actually has a REAL chance to reach #1 next week?
He will if he wins Paris?
(and tmrw ofc)

Ferrer out injured, Murray through to final. Hopefully another title soon for Murray and he will eventually get to number 1. He's been in great form since Queens, doing great in almost every tournament he plays (only bad one I can remember is USO where he should have beat Nishikori)

That's quite incredible considering how far ahead Djoko was in the summer.

Yay, happy this came about. Whilst Kerber should win, wouldn't be too surprised to see Cibulkova upset her either, she'll be fresher and totally be looking to make the most of her moment. The head-to-head is quite close too, although Kerber has won the last five in a row.

He should have beaten DelPo also at the DC semis.

Indeed. Not *that* far ahead in race but still

He needs Novak to lose early, an Andy v Novak final in Paris wouldn't have the no.1 spot on the line.

It'll get real tasty when Novak's 1500 points from London last year fall off before the tournament.

Ah OK. You know what round Nocak has to lose? I know I saw it on twitter some weeks ago but ofc forgot.

Novak hasn't played this badly in ages so anything is possible really.

Djoko had nearly double the amount of ranking points. Around 16,000 to Andys 8,000.

I'm really hoping Kerber win's tomorrow. Cibulkova is the only player to take a set off her, and she is playing well so an 'upset' is possible. But yeah, Kerber really should win, it would be a fitting end to the season on the women's side and a great way to finish as number 1. She hasn't won a title since so fingers crossed for tomorrow.