Running tennis thread 2016 / 2017

Started a few minutes ago. Not televised here. BT Sport has it exclusively. Can only watch in the UK. Not even BTExpress can watch BT Sport.

 

She did the time.

 

Well, it's hard to write a better script than this.

Eugenie Bouchard, perhaps the most vocal critic of Sharapova ("She's a cheater and so to me, I don't think a cheater in any sport should be allowed to play that sport again."), will play a round-of-32 match in Madrid tomorrow . . . against Sharapova.

Genie was bounced in the first round of four consecutive tournaments since the Australian Open until finally winning her first-round match today. Might as well start packing now for Italy, Genie.

 

I can only imagine the grunts that will be erupting from the mouth of Sharapova in that match.

 

As I was saying, looks like Sharapova is packing her bags for Italy.

 

Have to believe the tourney organizers tweaked the draw so this matchup could happen. If they didn't, they should have.

 

Federer won't play French Open. Likely will save energy for Wimbledon, his preferred surface. And with the way Nadal is playing now on clay, that's probably a good move.

 

Thanks for playing, Angelique Kerber. First women's No. 1 to make a first-round exit at Roland Garros.

 

Between Steve Johnson and del Potro, a lot of love and heart on display early in the French.

 

WTA players talking about boycotting Margaret Court Arena for next year's Australian Open if it's not renamed in light of Court's recent statements on gays and transgenders.

 

So who had Jelena Ostapenko in the French Open pool?

Unseeded, ranked No. 47. Never had won a main WTA Tour title (but then, she just turned 20).

Tomorrow's champion should be a little more predictable.