The Gays and Tennis Part 176 - Is this where we talk about Nitto ATP Finals?

Coco was amazing! Maybe she's conquered her demons?

outdoor bubble bath?

So first matches today at the ATP mens finals.

Medwedew vs. Fritz de Minaur vs. Sinne

What are your predictions?

Daddy wins! Helped in part by Medvedev choosing the ATP Finals to be the occasion where he loses his goddamn mind!

r4. Could you see it somewhere on TV?

R5 I'm in the UK, we get coverage through Sky Sports / Now TV. I'm not sure what the broadcasting arrangements for the tournament are for the US, unfortunately - think it may be just The Tennis Channel?

I am in Germany. Sky Tennis covers it.

So no free TV/Eurosport.

Tennis is besides Olympia and the Grand Slams not very popular in the main stream sports coverage, even with Zverev being number two in the ATP ranking.

Tennis had its peak in Germany with Boris Becker an Steffi Graf, with a lot of young people beginning with tennis.

But this is long ago, clubs are struggling with findig new members. Btw, sailing is much worse. We are back to the elitist lable.

R7 How is Zverev viewed in Germany?

Having watched him at various German events, I don't get the impression that there is a huge amount of enthusiasm for him, given his sustained place at the top of the game.

Boss Daddy looking FINE

I’m watching the ATP finals on TennisTV, and was surprised to see they’re covering it. Usually, they only cover ATP up to Masters 1000 events. Not complaining, except for when Lucie Ahl is commentating.

r8. Oh, the tennis crowd likes him. He always gets warm welcomings.

People know, that his trial for allegedly abuse his then girlfriend was mostly about getting much more money. At the end he decided to accept paying a certain amount of money. So there would be no dirty laundry washing in a public trial with a former girlfriend and with the mother of his child. You never heard anything from them.

I asked this yesterday on the last thread:

Which white male players have yellow skin?

We told you to fuck off. So, fuck off NOW.

Carlitos Team or Wuud Team?

RFC Team or Woobie Team?

Wuud team

Woobie team

Does anyone know what Jon Wertheim said about Krejcikova?

He made fun of her looks, her fivehead in particular.

It took all of 4 seconds on Google to find that out.

He said her pussy STINKS!

Here's a clip

Barbora has a widow's peak?

[quote] her fivehead in particular

Did he say she looked like a scissor sister?

Players, including Shapo, answering Halloween questions.

R16, Wertheim was on camera pre-show getting his makeup fixed, and said something about how enormous his forehead was by referencing Krejcikova’s. Hardly worth writing home about—we used to call Hingis Fivehead, after all—and I honestly believe Wertheim is too stupid and dull to be capable of wilful nastiness.

Doesn't Swiatek have a fivehead too? But even so, I think she's quite pretty. Not Rybakina level, but second level to that. B+ I'd say. (I do this to men to so I'm certainly NOT a misogynist hmmm - just an equal opportunity appearance-shamer)

Iga reminds me a lot of a young Jodie Foster

R4 back to Meddy's breakdown - here's a 2 minute video of it.

How come the commentator says that all Fritz can do is apologize that his mishit lob actually landed INSIDE the court? Why would he need to apologize that a freak shot went in against his opponent? WTF?

Anyway, I'm thrilled my daddy Tay Tay has beaten one of the giants (figuratively and literally - though I guess Fritz is pretty damned tall himself). Tennis is getting like basketball, a game just for giraffe-people.

Damn, forgot the link.

R28 it's fairly standard for players to 'apologise' for a point they win through a mis-hit shot. I say 'apologise' - it's generally just a case of raising your racquet towards the opponent in acknowledgement.

I can understand Medvedev getting frustrated, but his reaction was way overblown - it's not like he was the victim of a very bad call, or Fritz had indulged in deliberate gamesmanship.

Not fairly standard —uniformly standard. Basic tennis etiquette.

Blimey.

Against all expectations Wuud is currently giving Carlitos a pasting: takes the first set 6-1. Casper seems to have suddenly remembered how to play after months in the doldrums. Alcaraz looking distinctly shell-shocked.

WOW! I didn't see this coming.

Wuud!

....

Feel free to not like Wertheim but he is far from stupid. If you’d ever read his column, you’d know he’s quite smart and thoughtful.

And he’s excellent on 60 Minutes..but that’s not any excuse.

Wuud looks great at R34. Thanks for the pic.

Good chest hair placement. He’s still a dull player.

Legz+ looking ADORABLE with his baby niece.

I'm so happy for Casper. He finally beat Carlitos!

Happy for Ruud too! Such a nice guy, underrated. And the hairy chest? The constant bulge? Love.

It's so ugly, you guys are blind

What’s so ugly, R42?

I'm jonesing for Legz+

RFC thumps Woobie, no surprise

Well, that was quick

RFC.

Boss Daddy Team or Il Gingio Team?

Demon Team or Small Cat Team?

Boss Daddy Team, Demon Teams

R27, Iga reminds me of Prince William at current looks. She is his twin

What is happening with my dear Carlos???

Get up Carlitos! We love you!

Well, 10 matches - singles and doubles - at the ATP Finals, so far. 10 straight sets wins.

Compelling!

Il Syringio.

Daddy Fritz team

Minotaur/Hitlerstache team

Carlitos has a coldito, r51. Ruud says he knew going into the match that Alcaraz wasn't at 100% but he just played his game and took advantage.

¡Norge bastardo!

Coño, yo jugué medio muerto

Sara Foster Confirms Breakup From Tommy Haas, Shares Personal Update Amid Separation

Sara Foster announced her breakup from Tommy Haas after 18 years together and revealed what their living situation looks like now.

Tommy was HAF back in the day. My first tennis crush.

....

Your first tennis crush? How young are you?!

Carlitos Team or Woobie Team?

RFC Team or Wuud Team?

Carlitos team

Wuud team

Thanks so very much for asking.

Same

Okay, I'll take the dark side. So Zverev.

Tommy Haas's big cock back on the market.

Boss Daddy Team or Demon Team?

Small Cat Team or Il Gingio Team?

Is Carlitos still in it.. to win it?

r68. Yes. One win, one lost.

Boss Daddy over Demon in 3

Small cat team.

So Zverev needs only to win one set (!) against Carlos to make it to the half final.

I'm so proud to Daddy Fritz for making to the SF! He lost to Sinner but who doesn't - he beat Medvedev and de Minaur and I never would have predicted that. I'm gonna have to stop rooting for Woobie though, good grief.

*proud OF Daddy

Carlitos Team or RFC Team?

Wuud Team or Woobie Team?

Mektic and Koolhof -- hawt for different reasons

Carlitos team

Wuud team

Thanks so very much for asking!

Again, Team Zverev. Kind of return match for his lost game at the French Open.

Rummo pasta is the best!

Carlos kaput!

So. Next stop. Semifinals vs. Fritz who beated him two times this year.

But after breaking the spell against Carlitos, we'll see.

r80. But to be fair, Zverev is playing his best tennis at the moment.

Carlitos and Woobie, though Woobie is hard to love with all these ups and very very downs.

We want Daddy!

Casper completes the semi final line up. Good to see him end the year with some really impressive matches afterv playing like a drain since September.

Also good of Casper to knock NoVaxx down to seventh in the ATP year-end rankings.

Zverev only does consistently well in these 2 out of 3 tournaments. His record in the Slams has been spotty. For someone second in the rankings to have only reached two Slam finals, that ranking seems too high this year or any other.

Someone pushing 30*

RFC Team or Boss Daddy Team?

Wuud Team or Il Gingio Team?

I don’t agree, R86.

About that IG pic, Yevgeny.....

r86. Zverev lost the Fench Open finals dramatacilly due to his illness. He won more games on the tour this year than any other player. He was the busiest player, played even, when he was not 100 % healthy.

So, yes he deserves being No 2 in the ATP ranking.

As much as I dislike The RFC, it can't be denied that on form he's the second best player at the moment. Whether, he's now got the stones to keep it together to win a slam, the jury's still out. I hope he doesn't for reasons beyond his level of tennis, but if he wins one it would likely be on merit.

It's hard to justify his number two ranking when Alcaraz won the French and Wimbledon this year and is number 3...

Daddy Fritz team

Wuud team

R93 unfortunately that just shows up how poor Carlitos's form has been outside those two events - they account for about 2/3 of his points. He'd barely be scraping the top 10 without them.

DADDY!!!!!!

Matter of opinion, R91/R92, and whether we agree with the ATP's ranking system. My opinion is that more ranking points should be given to the Slams since those are the only events now with best 3 out of 5 and a larger group of players. More matches to be played and more endurance per match is needed to get the trophy, which Zverev never has. In the year-end rankings' top two you have to go all the way back to '99 to find a player who's never won a Slam. That's the equally unpleasant Marcelo Rios, who's aged like milk.

Actually it's '98 when Rios ended as #2.

Wow, Rios looks really rough. All that nasty cray on the inside made its way outside.

Well then. Good for Kathy May Jr. good job!

Il Gingio took Casper to the wuudshed.

Tennis OP continues to hit home runs with his thread pics.

there's a couple of us R102

the tradition continues!

Boss Daddy Team or Il Gingio Team?

[quote] BD, but I don't think he'll win -- Team

I agree.

Daddy Fritz team.

Yes, Daddy! And I volunteer to make another baby with him if he beats that cheater.

Boss Daddy

I saw most of the match and it was highly entertaining. Two great servers and base-liners cracking the ball.

Il Syringio.

Is this where we talk about Federation Cup?

[quote]Is this where we talk about Federation Cup?

Isn't it called Billie Jean King Cup now? Team USA got knocked out by Slovakia!

[quote] Isn't it called Billie Jean King Cup now?

It will always be Federation Cup to me.

[quote] Team USA got knocked out by Slovakia!

USA Team.

Anyone know whose ass this is?

Um, I believe the official name is Billie Jean King's Cup...

Rafa, R112.

[quote]Um, I believe the official name is Billie Jean King's Cup

Like...Roger's Cup?

Players look so green in that Turin arena.

BJK just said that the tennis scoring system should be overhauled so as not to turn off potential new fans who are confused. instead of 15-30-40 and then game, she just wants 1-2-3-4. This idea isn't anything new - it's been proposed at various times for decades. I wonder if instead of ad-scoring - where the score rotates among deuce, ad-in, and ad-out - if she proposes just going to "first to 4 points, have to win by two points" So if a game gets to 3-3 (the former 40-40 deuce), from there it's just 4-3, 4-4, 5-4, 6-4 (game), for example.

Tennis scoring isn't THAT hard to learn, but yeah, simple 1-2-3 is easier.

Of course, no ad scoring makes it even easier - first to four points, no ads, if tied 3-3 (40-40), next point wins. But tennis purists generally don't like no-ad.

Tennis scoring isn't difficult. It's based on the clock. "Love" comes from the French word "L'œuf" because a zero looks like an egg. I'd say the recent changes to the scoring system have made it more difficult to follow. Even the players sometimes don't know what's going on.

Billie Jean King has been harping about this since the 1970s when she started World Team Tennis, where they used her 1-2-3-4 scoring system. Like World Team Tennis it didn't catch on. Billie Jean is a great innovator only when she's riding on other people's coat tails, like Gladys Heldman, her own 'innovations' invariably flop. This has been proven time and again...

[quote] Billie Jean is a great innovator only when she's riding on other people's coat tails

The Original Nine!

Billie Jean King is also convinced that taking the WTA finals to Riyadh is going to help women in the UAE break free of the appalling oppression they’re subjected to every day.

She’s been wrong more than once.

The German pair, Krawietz/Putz, upset the Number 1 seeds and take the doubles crown.

Il Syringio is your 2024 year-end champion.

Sinner is simply the best player, by far, in the world.

Carlos has a stronger ceiling. But Sinner is just so rock solid. He has no real weaknesses and he's so damn steady.

Who pickle ball year end champion?

He's the best without a doubt but Carrot Top does not make a great cover model fro the ATP.

What happened to the WADA appeal of his apparent exoneration for the drug issue?

Help!

Start a separate pickle ball thread r125.... most of us don't care.

^^^^ tee-hee

I'm a purist, too.

ESL.

That's aman at r110

Adios beloved Rafa.

Rafa loses to Botic VDZin the opening match of the Davis Cup in Malaga. Possibly his last ever singles match if either Carlitos or the dubs team loses.

Not sure whether they could draft in Rafa to play alongside Granollers for a final fling if Carlitos loses to Griekspoor.

Is VDZ the new NDL?

;)

WAP!

WHO is that @ R137???

Jiri Vesely?

R139, it is Jiri.

adios, Rafa

Why Rafa no retire at French Open?

I's lost for Team Canaduh.

OPs thumbnail always looks like he’s reaching for his clit and I can’t unsee it.

Oh well.

I need a new hobby I guess.

Big Kokk beats Shelton in an insane 16-14 final set tie-break to give Australia the lead against the USA.

Daddy's on course to top Demon to level up the tie - he's just about to serve for the match.

Italy wins the BJK Cup.

Dumb USA go out after deciding to put singles stars, Shelton and ODS Tommy up against Australian doubles experts Pornstache and Matthew Ebden.

Pretty sure they would have done better with original picks, Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek.

What a year for Pow Pow Paolini and Italian tennis. Historic!

One for the record books

luvs me sum Pornstache

very fuckable

shaggy Pornstache

Gay former tennis professional Brian Vahaly named President of the USTA.

👍🏼well done!

I hope he can live up to the legacy of Katrina Adams as USTA President.

(Rolls eyes)

She did well —don’t be an ass.

Adams completely ruined her reputation with the way she handled the Serena USO default incident and its aftermath. Completely.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

I'm not saying his team looks gay, I'm just saying, who doesn't enjoy the smell of fresh baked polvorónes?

Beefy Buxom Bouncy Big Boy, Tallon Griekspoor, defeats Struffi in 3 close sets to take the Dutch to the Davis Cup Final.

The Selfish RFC couldn't be arsed to represent Germany in their best chance to win it in years.

R156. Which was not within her control. She wasn’t in charge in court or running the tournament —was she?

"Carlos has a stronger ceiling. But Sinner is just so rock solid. He has no real weaknesses and he's so damn steady."

I used to think Alcaraz had the "higher high" but had a larger range overall, thus more surprising upsets than Sinner. But, I'm not so sure anymore if Carlos's high is higher. It may be more "artistic" and varied, but that's not the same thing. Interested to see what Sinner will do at the French and Wimbledon this year. Clearly he's the best on hard courts.

[quote] Interested to see what Sinner will do at the French and Wimbledon this year.

He lost to Small Cat at Wimbledon and to Carlitos at the French Open.

Watching Sinner vs. De Minaur..... As much as I admire Sinner, he bores me lately. He is damn perfect but I cannot watch him playing.

BREAKING: Novak Djokovic has appointed Andy Murray to coach him at the Australian Open....

nice! what's boris becker doing these days?

^^^^

gambling, drinking, getting some AA tail and evading taxes

I thought Boris' black chicks were European, primarily. So AE tail.

So it's Italy Vs The Netherlands in the Final tomorrow.

Praying that Tallon, Butt-Itch and Wesley can 'pull off' a shock and spare us from further Sinner winning tedium.

Yeah, I realise that it must be a tennis ball but this pic is hilariously deceptive. Tallon is REALLY excited at yesterday's win...

Rafa’s first and last DC appearance

R164 I thought you were making a joke, but holy shit it's real!

I've booked my room, and got my tickets for the first week of Indian Wells next year. Anyone else plan on going? I'll give everyone an update like I do every year. Super excited.

You could be dead by then…

R171 I always enjoy your IW updates. You're a doll!

R173 Right back at ya! Oh, I forgot it's DL. FUCK OFF, CUNT! Jokes aside, I think it'll be a good year for tennis babes.

R172 Very true - but at least I'll have something to look forward to while I stay away from the light.

[quote] I've booked my room, and got my tickets for the first week of Indian Wells next year.

When Sunshine Double?

I'm going, R171. I've been there before as a guest of BNP Paribas and it's a fabulous tournament. I'm going on my own this year, glad to spend some late-winter time in the CA desert and see good tennis!

Shapo, Domicakes and The Kokk discussing the Big Three.

I both love and hate Novak and honestly thought this coaching revelation was some kind of joke, but it could be interesting.

They're old friends since childhood and there's no denying Andy knows his stuff.

They're totally going to Challengers it up, if they haven't already...

If I was the Netherlands I'd sacrifice Botic to go up against Sinner; and save Tallon to play either Matteo or Lore. That way they're more likely to get at least 1 win out of the singles matches.

The doubles then would be more of a 50:50 shoot out between Koolhof/VDZ and Sinner/Bolelli.

I hope they add Amelie to team Djokovic, so that at least someone coaches the coach in the coaching department.

Andy and Novak joining forces at the top together: it's like the Big Two era all over again!!!

R119 -. The 1-2-3-4 scoring system was Jimmy Van Allen's invention. He also came up with the first sanctioned tiebreaker system adopted by the USLTA. BJK championed the simplified scoring system for team tennis which made sense....five sets a night didn't need 20 deuce games. The Slims used it a bit in 1972 but the women started playing too conservatively at 3-3, so they went back to traditional scoring. At the club level we always played no-ad because of court time. I thought it was great,

Italians won...

Davis Cup. Zzzzzzzzzz.

The happy champions

I used to like Sinner but now every time I look at him I cringe. Why was Simona treated so badly when this guy just got away with it, with no consequences? Fuck him. I hope he destroys his knee or something. He'll never be a champion the sport and its fans can be proud of.

Did the hot Italian who had to dump the nympho girlfriend because she was wearing him out by demanding constant sex play?

yes, lovely Matteo

he won his singles match

ditched the PP, got his mojo back

Did Sinner know about the test results when he opted out of playing the Olympics? Seems odd to make the effort to represent your country in a less and less relevant international event and skip the Olympics, which has a profile way beyond the traditional tennis audience?

R190, yes, he knew. He has tested positive twice in March, months before the Olympics.

Wow, what a year for Italian Tennis

R190 Most definitely. His actions scream "silent ban", with him pulling out of tournaments with a virus etc. I don't necessarily think he intentionally doped but the way it was handled by the authorities was really bad.

The excuse given was so preposterous though. His trainer, who had been in trouble before for this same drug, treats a frickin' cut on his hand or something with this very banned, very widely-known to be banned, substance, and doesn't wait a bit and wash it off his damned hands before giving Jannik what was apparently a very deep massage?? And I think Italian sports is even known for the use of this anabolic steroid Clostebol.

This reminds me of figure skater Kamila Valieva's excuse for the heart drug trimetazidine (known to also help with endurance) in her system. Seems she accidentally took a drink out of her grandfather's glass (and he was on this medicine for heart disease).

Which excuse is better - or more creative?

R194, perhaps she had a legitimate heart condition. Benefit of the doubt!

The reason Sinner didn't get any temporary ban is because he knew exactly what happened and how it happened in terms of his being exposed to the illegal agent. Which is different than most positive tests other players receive. And that made all the difference according to the rules.

Now it might all be BS, but that's the narrative.

R196 That's not how the rules work, though. You get suspended pending investigation. It's no coincidence he took basically two months off (including the Olympics) after testing positive. It's the secrecy and cover-up by the tennis authorities I have a problem with. If he'd been ranked No. 125 it would have been announced immediately and he'd have been officially suspended. Instead he got to invent some illness so he wouldn't be found out at the Olympics, where the testing is a lot more rigorous. Everyone in the tennis authorities knew about his TWO positive tests and didn't follow the correct procedure.

R197 I believe because he was able to instantly tell the powers that be what the issue was regarding the positive tests, he avoided that lag time that hurt other players. Most people either claim they don't know why they tested (either because they're lying or they truly don't know). Sinner knew exactly what happened, detailed it, and and the PTB bought it.

Let me see if I can find the detailed explanation. I know for sure I am missing pertinent stuff. I listened to a tennis podcast when it all happened and they podcaster explained it all way better than I am. Going to find it now...

WADA has appealed the decision clearing Sinner and has asked that he be banned for one to two years. I don’t know when that will be decided.

R198 The point is, he tested positive then didn't play for two months. He wasn't physically injured - he said he wasn't feeling well. That just coincidentally happened at the time of his positive test. That's a cover-up. Do I think he intentionally doped? Not really. Did the authorities and his team say "Right, take some time off so you don't test positive again while we sort this out"? Yes. I think that's what happened.

There has never been an “accidental” doping case that didn’t sound like absolute nonsense. We as spectators will never know for sure but I think most athletes push the boundaries of what is acceptable in terms of “therapeutic” drug use. Obviously they have teams that make specific decisions about concoctions to use, the athletes themselves don’t decide that. People get caught because it’s not an exact science; sometimes an athlete’s body can’t eliminate evidence of a drug quickly enough.

Ginger chemistry is funny.

And the Italian skater Daniel Grassl, while training in Russia, missed three scheduled doping tests, and was sort of banned for a bit, but is now back winning medals like nothing happened.

An Italian, training in Russia - Sinner's Italian, Valieva's Russian - all coincidences, I'm sure. Oh and was Sharapova Russian? I just found out she was 6'2"! Does steroid use in young girls make them grow taller? Just asking...

R200 that's not actually true. He did play quite a lot from from Indian Wells (when he tested positive) to August 20th, when the news finally broke and he was (temporarily) cleared.

In fact, he played Miami, Monte Carlo, the French, Halle, Wimby, Canada and Cincinnati (which he won the day before the news broke).

He skipped Madrid, Rome and the Olympics, citing illness each time.

So it doesn't really seem like there was a "soft ban" in place. If there was, why did he play seven of the ten tourneys he was scheduled to play during that stretch?

I don't think there was any cover up. I think he was able to circumnavigate a suspension because he could "prove" or convince TPTB that it was accidental positive tests and do so in a very, very timely manner. With details, with receipts.

Now, why did the TPTB keep it quiet for six months? No idea. I assume that's just their protocol.

And why is WADA appealing that decision? No idea.

But I don't there's a cover up. At least not with the evidence I've read about.

[quote] Oh and was Sharapova Russian? I just found out she was 6'2"! Does steroid use in young girls make them grow taller?

I wouldn’t know, but growth spurts are associated with heart conditions.

[quote] The most common time to screen for HCM is during puberty or adolescence. The reason: This condition often manifests during a rapid growth spurt or once the affected individual engages in competitive sports. HCM accounts for roughly one-third of sudden cardiac deaths among young athletes.

R204 He should have been immediately suspended when he tested positive. He wasn't. That's where the cover-up is.

r204, don't the Olympics have their own anti-doping protocols/tests? My thought was that Sinner intentionally sought to avoid those.

Not sure R207. I am not really much of a Sinner fan (I think if he cheated he should be banned) and certainly don't know everything about the situation.

I am just parlaying what I've heard as to why he didn't get suspended after the positive tests.

Again, the speed and veracity at which he defended/explained himself seems to be why he wasn't suspended. It wasn't any sort of cover up. He just had really good lawyers who knew how to avoid that punishment AND a reasonable story that the PTB clearly believed. At least at the time.

Also, tennis players, even injured ones, can be randomly drug tested any time, any place. So Sinner missing a few tourneys because of illnesses (however suspicious this might look) would not protect him from drug testing at all. And all of those tests administered to him during that time period came back negative. Make that of it what you will.

R199:

[quote] WADA has appealed the decision clearing Sinner and has asked that he be banned for one to two years. I don’t know when that will be decided.

Another question. What if WADA’s appeal is successful and Sinner does get a one-year or more ban? Retroactively, he will have to forfeit all moneys and titles earned post-positive test up to and including the full term of the ban. Does this mean that Italy will also have to forfeit their Davis Cup victory? After all, Sinner played in all matches that led to the victory, including the Cup-winning match.

Mon Fils

Ici...

For a certifiable Tennis Nut I'm surprised to find myself feeling a sense of relief that this season's finally over - bar the odd Challenger here and there..

I'm not sure whether it's anxiety with the prospect of a period of Sinner domination if Carlitos fails to get his shit together, or it's just fatigue with watching the same players grind out matches week in, week out. I find indoor hard court tennis the least enjoyable so that may be a factor as it dominates the final months.

On the bright side it looks like there are some new - many hot - players that have really emerged this year (like Fils, Draper, Legz+) who should be fighting at the sharp end of the big tournaments next year.

What are all of you fellow cunts looking forward to for 2025 in Gays and Tennisland?

For an active (or passive or vers) ATP player to finally come out, r212. I’ve been following the Gays and Tennis threads since the first one last millenium, virtually, and still nothing.

Well there's Brian Vahaly.

Passive, from my sources.

R212, looking forward to seeing Fils make a mark in 2024 as well as Mpeshi Perricard. Also for Alcaraz to get his shit together, and finally may we see an end totnhe reig of Djokovich. Here's to a year of Novak winning zero titles absolutely nothing , zero, zilch..nothing

What's the next important tournament before the Australian Open?

There's Hopman Cup and a couple of 250s in Perth and Brisbane. That's about it.

Oops, I guess it's now United Cup.

[quote] and a couple of 250s in Perth and Brisbane

I’ll be there!

Is this where we talk about Hopman Cup?

Is this where we talk about United Cup?

I'm usually grateful for the break, for the time to pay attention to other things, the holidays, a good book, etc. I watch less and less after the US Open. I start ramping up again in Oz.

The Next Gen finals are in late December. I'll be rooting for Fils, Shang, Fonseca, Van Assche, and Mensik, in that order.

[quote] Madison Keys marries Bjorn Fratangelo in Charleston

May they have beautiful tippy turtle children.

dogface thread

Casper got engaged

She has a shovel head (his intended).

We don't like her. DL not approved PP

[quote] Casper got engaged

Link please.

They should create a new surface that approximates the speed of carpet but without the obvious deficiencies and use that surface for the year-end indoor tournaments, including the ATP Finals.

So carpet. We get it.

You're welcome, r225. (Ya lazyass.)

Oops, sorry r225, I meant to slag r228!

Caspar will name his kids 250 and 500.

Does Casper's fiancee qualify as a PP?

I'm thinking not.

She doesn’t look it, r234. If he starts competing in Challengers rather than 250s and 500s, then we should reconsider.

[quote] Nordic Battle 2024 – Casper Ruud vs Holger Rune

They play twice, 30th of November and 2nd of December.

Woon team or Wuud team?

Oops! IGA.....The ITIA announces that Iga Świątek has accepted a 1-month suspension after testing positive for the prohibited substance trimetazidine (TMZ) in an out-of-competition sample in August 2024.

1 month? 1 MONTH?

Throw the book at the Dirty Druggie!

That's nothing!

That's the drug that caused Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva to lose her gold medal at the 2022 Olympics?

Did her granddaddy mix into her borscht by accident?

R240, yes, it cost Russia the group gold medal and, even worse, the medal went to the U.S. team.

Facts matter.

Another silent ban. I think from now on whenever any player pulls out of a tournament without an obvious injury, I'm just going to assume they tested positive.

Another Toxic Trollop snags one of our DL Fave ATP Hotties!

Felix has fallen!

Delish Camilo Ugo Carabelli keeps us entertained in the off season with a shirtless celebration at getting through to the semi finals of the Challenger in Chile.

Such a shame no zoom on the fixed court camera!

Useless^

yeah the camera needs to be WAY closer

Hope Felix doesn’t gets distracted from his game. I mean, it’s all been going so well.

So. Guys. Who is Carlos fucking?

Period. Full stop.

Pedro Martinez. Pedro lets Charly dive into his warm beef empanada.

Giron of the Great Ass.

Are there any girls in his age range training at Juan-Carlos' academy?

R254 MEN ONLY.

Train better that way. These boys can meet a woman later like at the bank.

carlos is in NYC, he's playing ben shelton. they are playing in MSG.

She got ONE month of suspension for a drug that improves cardiac function? Somewhere Sharadopa who got two years suspension for another drug that does more or less the same thing is having a meltdonium.

Gill Gross has an informative take on the Iga situation. I really love that guy.

He's pretty confident that Iga didn't knowingly dope. Seems she really had the receipts as to what happened. He also believes Sinner didn't knowingly dope, but admits that case has more shady elements to it, fwiw.

His big issue (and mine) is how the tennis powers that be handle these cases. The weird secrecy, for one.

Second, the fact that Iga and Sinner - totally playing by the rules as currently defined - have the resources to fight back in a way average players don't. That just seems so unfair. (For instance Iga was able to take the melatonin she took and pay for labs to see if that was the source of the problem (it was). Most players could not afford that.). I know, money talks. But it irks me and it irks Gill.

I do appreciate the fact he said that positive tests producing varied results for players actually prove that system DOES work. If everyone who tested positive had the same punishment, that would be even more suspect. Since every case is unique in its circumstances and context, the conclusions should also be unique to reflect that.

At any rate, this top players need to be smarter!

It's hilarious how everyone here thought Alcaraz's muscles were due to him doping, yet Sinner was the one who was caught doping, not Alcaraz. Truth is most substances used for doping in tennis are enhancing stamina, like oxygen in the blood. Muscles aren't that big of an advantage anymore. However, a skinny guy like Sinner would've improved his game due to increased stamina.

R258, honestly, they’re all liars. Everyone else’s supplements get contaminated with mouse feces or fentanyl, but with these guys it’s always PEDs.

R260 my guess would be that if one were to actually test for mouse feces, they'd for sure find trace of amounts in many tests. Since we all know every factory on the planet has vermin scurrying around.

Ditto fentanyl, assuming the factory producing the contaminated product also produces a product that has fentanyl as an ingredient.

Contamination is a part of food/supplement preparation. All the time, the world over.

Btw, the same company that made Iga's melatonin, also produces a product that has the damning agent (TZM, I think it's called) as an ingredient. Of course there's a chance that some in one might get in the other.

We shouldn't damn Iga if that's what happened. And if you read the report (I did) it really seems like that's the case. (Oh, I'm a Saba and Coco fan, so I have ZERO net positive bias in this!)

She’s a one-surface wonder.

R261, I did read the report. Nothing in it seems inherently far-fetched, but Swiatek initially did not disclose taking melatonin. She “forgot,” even though she had taken it earlier that day.

what does melatonin. do?

People take melatonin to sleep more easily. With the frequent jet lag players experience on the tour it's quite common.

R264, it was the melatonin that was the purported source of the Trimetazidine (TMZ) contamination. TMZ improves the body's use of oxygen. It's been banned for use by athletes since 2014.

R263, they said she listed melatonin on some forms over the years but not others. Maybe she took it off and on, who knows.

Melatonin is sometimes used as an adjunct antidepressant but is primarily prescribed as a sleep aid. In the US requires a prescription.

Melatonin doesn’t require a prescription in the US. It’s a supplement and therefore unregulated.

R263, yes, she wasn't sure why she tested positive at the onset.

She basically sent to a labs EVERYTHING she ingested. Everything. And that lab came back and said it was, oddly enough, the melatonin. Then, she gave that bottle of melatonin and another, unopened bottle of melatonin (very lucky she had that on hand) that she'd purchased from the same batch and gave that, plus the aforementioned lab work, over the the tennis powers that be. And the tennis labs found corroborating evidence.

It really does seem rather cut and dry in Iga's case.

What's interesting is that why she got that initial ban (while she was testing her various supplements) is, as you say, because she "didn't know" what caused the positive test at first. But why get banned for that? Of course she didn't know! Unless she was blatantly cheating, why would she know?

Sinner, on the other hand, DID know exactly why he tested positive. And told them right off the bat. So he did NOT get any initial ban. Per the rules.

To me, that's something tennis needs to figure out. It's a bizarre rule. Since we can assume - for those who test positive accidentally - that they don't know how they tested positive, it seems totally unfair to penalize them for, well, not knowing!

They should have something in place where the athlete gets a month (or whatever) to do the same kind of recon Iga did before any suspension occurs. Especially for trace amount positive tests like both Sinner and Iga had.

Apologies R269. For some reason I was thinking of Mirtazapine but you are absolutely correct. My bad.

Coach Patrick Mouratouglu has one hot ass!

^ I’ve always thought Patrick was kind of dirty hot. Do we know for sure if he and Serena were doing it?

R273, yes, she broke up his marriage.

I've seen him at events as a fan and he comes off as a sleazy opportunist, though I supppose you don't have to see him in person to get that vibe off him.

Australian tennis legend Fraser dies at 91

What's up with Titsi? I just happened to see his most recent Instagram post featuring a clip about narcissistic parents. I'm out of the loop. Has he broken up with his arrogant father?

[quote] I’ve always thought Patrick was kind of dirty hot. Do we know for sure if he and Serena were doing it?

I think Mouratoglou’s such a manwhore that it wouldn’t surprise me if he’d also found his way into Legz’s shorts.

^^^^ oh, my

I need a cigarette

Can we figure out who Andy Roddick is talking about when asked for the player he respected LEAST on his latest podcast? (He doesn't name names.) The answer starts at the 54-minute mark.

Short version: The guy had great speed, a great body and a career-high ranking of 6 or 7. Ironically, Andy says he was a nice guy but didn't care enough to use his talent (à la Kyrgios).

Nice shot of Jiri.

R280 The only one I can think of is Robin Soderling - he reached #4 though.

Robin S wasn't a nice guy tho... hmm, this is a great question.

My guess would be Fernando Gonzalez, although he reached #5.

Actually I meant Fernando Verdasco, who did peak at #7.

Ah, Verdasco, that's a great guess. I was also thinking of Fabio Fognini. Very talented, but a hothead and a preening prima donna.

R283 No, he wasn't. He was literally talking shit about Nadal and borderline bullying him. I will never forget him making fun of Nadal during a match. It was disgusting.

Roddick said he was a nice guy off the court and one of the fastest on the court.

Was Verdasco super fast? I can't recall. Fognini is definitely not super fast, so I doubt it's him.

I said Soderling "wasn't", R287. I think you read my comment too fast. I'm with you 100% - RS talking shit about Rafa was poor form.

Wow. I didn't know Robin was such a prick. I never really paid too much attention to him when he was playing.

How about Dmitry Tursonov - definitely had a great body and speed?

I recall him being quite casual during his time on the tour - he never seemed like he had the hunger to push himself to the top.

r291, Tursonov is definitely in the running on the bod front, but he peaked at #20. (Nothing's to say that, after all this time, Roddick might not have misremembered the ranking.)

How about Tomáš Berdych? Same era, pretty nice body, career high #4. Or David Nalbandian?

Kyrgios insinuates Roddick doped.

Oooh, now Nalbadian seems like a good possibility! I don't remember Berdych being particularly fast (or beloved). Cute, but lumbering.

R291 Chat GPT told me Tursonov peaked at 7 - which did seem high to me. Fucking crappy AI!

Looking at his Wikipedia page I see he took 7 titles - must've been what it understood I was asking about.

Is this where we talk about Garden Cup?

I see The Viking, Holger Woon, didn't forget the Maybelline for the exhibition match against Minotaur/Hitlerstache.

There's chatter on r/tennis that João Lucas Reis, a Brazilian who plays Challenger events, came out on Instagram this weekend. He's currently ranked 370 in singles, with a highest ranking of 204 last year. He and his partner make an attractive couple.

Apologies if there's a Part 177 that I missed.

Nice. Good for him, and success!

He's only 24, so even more impressive.

I noticed earlier today, and others have as well, that the UnitedHealthcare CEO killer, Luigi Mangione, looks like Cerundolo.

They look nothing alike. 😵‍💫

IG gay tennis/sports accounts going gaga over Joao. Good to see.

I MISS TENNIS!!!

Is Chrissie's cancer back again? I saw I bleep of her shaved head, but no confirmation.

Thirsty French players bringing the Shirtless Pre-Season Training Content... Part 1 - Arthur Cazaux

Thirsty French players bringing the Shirtless Pre-Season Training Content... Part 2 - Arthur Fils

I must admit that I find OP's thread picture to be disturbing, and I hope all such frivolity will not be exercised in future!

TFP2 for the win!

R309, why is it disturbing?

It disturbs his trousers as his penis rises.

damm

we got us some Frenchie hos sellin it up in yere

[quote] It disturbs his trousers as his penis rises.

Shapo causes erections?

Fabio Fognini is on the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars

[quote] Marton Fucsovics announces engagement to Nini Molnar

Is she a PP?

That photograph makes it look like Marton has a lovely manicure and a big sparkling rock.

Sorry to say, Fabio has two left feet on the dance floor, but fun nonetheless

Is this where we talk about the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF?

The 8 players competing are Joao Fonseca (Brazil), Luca Van Assche (France), Arthur Fils (France), Alex Michelsen (USA), Jakub Mensik (Czechia), Nishesh Basavareddy (USA), Learner Tien (USA) and Shang Juncheng (USA).

Ohhh, who knew Shang defected?

Who best net gen?

Fonseca v Tien? Hoodathunk

I'll say Fonseca

So... um... I guess we don't care that much about the Next Gen finals, huh?

Since the fine top-seeded French booty is already dunzo in Jeddah, I thought I'd share this clip that FB just shared with me. It may have already been a topic of conversation, but I'm only now realizing that Corentin Moutet has quite the pert tuchus.

The early departures of Fils and Shang killed whatever interest I had in the Next Gen finals, though Fonseca may be worth watching. ATP hosting the finals in a Sharia law country plus the strange scoring system also put me off.

Fils shows off his gifts in the link. Here's to a new tennis kit for him in 2025 instead of the potato sack that Lacoste drooped on him this year.

Fils got some booty

Fonseca team or Tien team?

Fonseca has terminal cabbage patch doll face. I can't bring myself to root for him, even tho he seems like a nice lad.

Fonseca is best Net Gen for 2024.

The Demon and Katie Boulter announce their engagement.

I have to say, it's a lovely photo - they both radiate happiness.

[quote] Pro tennis player Jenson Brooksby talks about living with autism

2 time Grand Slam doubles champion Max Purcell has been suspended for doping. Apparently for receiving more than the allowed amount of vitamin supplements. He self-volunteered the oversight by the medical team administering the IV.

I'm hugely critical of the recent doping cases, but really can't see how taking vitamins is doping.

R332, apparently there’s a limit on how much you can take intravenously.

Just wanted to with all you Gays & Tennisers a very happy Christmas.

My dad passed away last week so this one will be a poignant one for me and family. We'll be together today to share many stories and happy memories of the old fella.

^^^^

Merry Christmas, doll

Merry Christmas, R334. Was he a tennis fan?

No, he was a cricket and football (soccer guy). I got the tennis bug from my mum - who is a Crazed Federloon!

Thank you, R337.

[quote] I got the tennis bug from my mum - who is a Crazed Federloon!

Same here.

Oops. I’m r336.

Apparently there is a big controversy over Fed getting a statue at Wimbledon, and Martina being ignored even though she won it 9 times and is tied with BJK for the all time singles/doubles/mixed crown. Prissy Fed tried to get his name attached to Centre Court but got panned for that, so ala Nadal's Roland Garros statue, he wants one at Wimby, and make NO mistake he's leading the charge. Evert, and for that matter, Helen Wills Moody deserve statues at the US Open long before Althea Gibson, so whoever makes these decisions is either bought off or ignorant of history.

Althea deserves her statute. She has a unique place in American tennis history, not to mention that she was a New Yorker who grew up playing on public courts ( she even played on courts set up On the street!). The US Open is played on public property of the people of NYC.

Take a hike.

statue*

We're just a few weeks away.....

Boss Daddy and Coco already down under

Legz+ is back bishes!

Playing the United Cup with Muchova

Flayvah is back, too!

Flayvah catches a wave

dayum

Is Nick back this season?

I was disappointed to hear Osaka's remark that if she doesnt do well this season she will retire..? Girl nk

Also didnt DCollins announce her retirement last year?? Why is she slated to play in 2025 Aussie Open?

Is this where we discuss the Btisbane International??

Nick is playing my new fave Giovanni Mpeshi Perricard!

Bits is the bane of my existence!

[quote] Nick is playing my new fave Giovanni Mpeshi Perricard!

Mine too!

[quote] Also didnt DCollins announce her retirement last year??

She later announced she wasn’t retiring given her good year.

Collins is delaying her retirement by a year related to her fertility window.

r350, Collins walked it back toward the end of the year. From what I could gather from her statement at the time, the womb situation wasn't improving so why not play.

Naomi is a lazy cunt.

^She has 4 GS, a billion dollars and an um a below average IQ, she's fine, leave her alone.

R358 Although Naomi is definitely financially set for life, she's most definitely not a billionaire. Most estimates have her net worth around $50-$100 million USD.

Happy Kyrgios lost. He's such an asshole.

Naomi has a baby now, those cost a lot, she should make more money

Boss Daddy rolls over Porna

Flayvah upsets the UGOAT

cute as a bug

[quote] Naomi has a baby now

She has a baby?

Is this where we talk about Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open?

I haz a virus now. Iz it floo?

Here’s a good read …

Genie Bikini lives!

Nothing worse than watching the “Bro-show” duo Novaxx and Kokkinakis-fucked-your-girlfriend mugging for the cameras during their doubles matches in Brisbane. Glad Kyrgios was ousted yesterday in singles. Let’s hope Novaxx gets knocked out soon.

Watching Tiafoe and Perricard in Brisband. The shorts are tighter and shorter this year. Lots of leg.

Lore has a new look

Jerry Shang serves up quad realness

Legz+ bulge

R374 I'm suddenly very hungry!

This Twitter/X account is sort of what ATPThirst used to be like back in the day

^It's the first time in 20 years I ever wanted to sign up for twitter. Thanks for that

Does anyone know if Alcaraz is playing any tournaments before Australian Open?

The players are not happy

that guy @ R376 has good taste in mins

R380 = Pam Shriver ;-)

Is that Pam's kid?

R376's link is a lot of fun. Coric with his flat stomach, thick build, and crop top undershirt!

WTF is happening with Rynakina?? She got Ivanisevic in as her coach after dumping the controversial Vukov, then she re-engaged Vukov to the surprise of the entire world (even prompting Shriver to post a damning X tweet where she referred to Vukov and abuse), and now the WTA has stepped in and suspended Vukov from coaching any WTA players.

Poison Coaching

The Twitter link is fun even if it's sandwiched with the usual slices of Wonder Bread, give or take a Legz+ or two.

Who are the “slices of Wonder Bread” on the ATP?

Lots of Zverev and Nordics and WASPs, but taking a deeper dive into it, I see plenty of Italians and a little bit of Fils and FAA. Maybe slices of Boboli?

Legz+ goes absolutely ape on Flavah's ass in the United Cup Czechia-Italy Quarter Final.

A 6-2, 6-1 thrashing!

....

Opelka takes the first set off Novak in the tiebreak.

And the second set 6-3, knocking Novaxx right out. Buh-bye! Happy 2025!!

Yay! I’m so happy.

Loving Flop Era Novaxx!

Djokovic lost to someone ranked 293 in the world. Lol. His downfall is happening. Finally!

Opelka’s ranking reflects significant time away from the sport dealing with injuries, so 293 is not an accurate assessment of his standing in the game.

He stands tall today!

[quote] He stands tall today!

And every day. He’s the Chewbacca of tennis.

R396 We know but we don't care. Anything to pile on Novaxx's misery.

[quote] Anything to pile on Novaxx and his coach Misery.

R400 You win this Edition of The Gays and Tennis!

Legz+ had a Wubie-esque emotional meltdown against Daddy in the second set.

He was a set and 5-2 up and lost 4 games in a row and retired in the middle of the game with Taylor serving from the set. Seemed to be complaining about a leg issue - maybe cramping - in the changeovers, but it didn't really appear to be impeding his movement on court.

bulge

French journeyman and occasional Only Fans star, Alexandre Muller, makes his second ATP Final in Hong Kong, with a win over Jaume Munar.

I'm embarrassed at how thrilled I was when Opelka beat Djoko. But now he's beat fellow giraffe Perricard. Nice to have this caveman behemoth from the good old USA back in the mix. He's no Daddy but he'll do, as a novelty.

I haven't seen this noted here (sorry if I missed it), but there is now an out gay player on the ATP circuit.

It's mentioned upthread, R426, but the BBC link is a good addition to give us more of his story. Thank you.

R406, that is.

Aww Hubie Hurkacz is adorable when he's talking. I think Iga's a bit better with English in this clip but they're both pretty good. I never saw the attraction with Hubie but now I see he's a sweetie.

Daddy looks thicker in this tournament.

Which tournament is it, and is this where we talk about it?

United Cup

Thank you, R412.

I was there for the US–CZ semifinals, and was stunned, like everyone else, when Machac suddenly withdrew, after an incomprehensibly dramatic hissy fit with the Czech coach Vacek. After one more rally, which he lost, he just walked up to the chair umpire and said “I’m done.” Up to this point, there was nothing at all that had indicated Machac was cramping.

When Hopman Cup start?

Musetti has grown of his boyish youthful looks

Was so very happy to hear that the giant took out Novaxx whom it seems has entered his flop era, as poster upthread, said, I hope and pray it is. Howveer was very very unhappy to hear he took out my new fave GMP

DL icon Coco Puffs is looks to be in very good form! Surprise how overpowering she was for Muchova

Still can't stand Iga

Flopos Djoko

R418, don’t be deceived by the 6-1 6-4 scoreline. Muchova was flat as a pancake after her two previous matches (v Swiatek and Paolini—despite the scorelines, they were both almost two hours long, with some extremely gruelling rallies), and Coco Puff’s forehand (and serve) were pretty ordinary at best and puff-balls or mis-hits at worst. I can’t see this year’s Coco Puff consistently getting past players such as Swiatek or Sabalenka, especially if they direct most of their traffic towards her forehand.

Rybakina continues to defend Vukov, and nobody has yet explicitly said what his “abuse” consisted in. Tumaini is a good tennis journo, but this article leaves reveals very little about the “misconduct”.

Regardless of what the WTA eventually decides, it’s certainly weird that Rybakina asked Vukov to return to her team and that Ivanisevic, currently her official coach, knew nothing about it.

"When Hopman Cup start?"

It's defunct. United Cup is essentially the same thing.

Rybakina's always struck me a very shady person with all the retirements and last-minute tournament pull-outs. She's never seemed to give any straight answers as to the reasons why.

R421 Tumaini is a good journalist but his voice could induce a coma.

AITA for not really caring about the Rybakina situation? Of course, I hope she's not getting abused, but it's just not interesting after the initial "wow" of her bringing Vucik back. Reddit is all breathless theories of how she was probably groomed and all the various forms of abuse she's probably enduring.

Yet another conveniently timed MTO for Cheater Swiatek.

Coco Puff!!

Giant-killing giant, Reilly Opelka, fades at the final hurdle and gifts Jiri Lehecka his second ATP title in the Brisbane final.

Alexandre Muller: the new comeback King!

He lost the first set of every match he played in the tournament , but goes on to take his first ATP title by overpowering Nishikori in sets 2 and 3.

Prediction: Alcaraz will NOT win AO this year. I suspect he will struggle to win his first AO. It may be years. I think Sinner will win. Alcaraz will most likely lose early.

Boss Daddy!

Coco no-choko: beats Iowa and U.S. wins Cup.

Meanwhile, Osaka wins first set of first final in two years and then retires from the match.

Iga, not Iowa. ;)

Is this where we talk about BMW Open?

Nein.

Darderi bulging a bit vs. Borges. I think. At least from one angle they showed.

^^Okay , confirmed. Damn.

Sorry can someone explain what exactly is going on with Osaka??

I thought it was simply that she was injured again even thought she did good making the final? Then she posted some Viola-lite musings about bigger picture/higher purpose.

Like, um, higher purpose, um yeah.

I meant "though," not "thought."

I just one in Addehlaid, Oztralia!

Sashia Vickery starting at OF.

Pam Shriver considering joining for research purposes only.

Cutie Kiwi Isaac Becroft defeated by ZaSu Pitts Bergs.

New haircut, new coach (Fernando Verdasco), new attitude!

One of my favourite players, the swashbuckling but self-sabotaging, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina completes an uncharacteristically efficient straight sets win over RBA. I would love to ADF to finally fulfil his potential this year.

Legz/Brat

I have middling interest in tennis, but I must congratulate the OP or OPs of these tennis threads for their consistently excellent photo selection. Bravo!

ADF's potential has been fulfilled.

Is Nagal clay specialist?

R438, on the Tennis Podcast they said she was playing in the final and was bringing outstanding tennis then suddenly had to retire. I thought they said something about an abdominal issue.

The question whenever a player retires from a match close to a slam is whether it was largely precautionary.

R448 I respectfully disagree. He's pretty regularly got in to winning positions against top 10ers only to get inside his own head and implode. If he can sort out the mental side he has the raw shot-making talent to be a consistent top 20 player and maybe top 10. Of course, he may never do that - lots of talented players never do.

Winning position against tops….raw shot….talented player

Soon, on OF

3 time dubs slam winner Gabby Dabrowski reveals her fight with breast cancer

ADF looking good in his sleeveless kit. One of the commentators on TC is super bullish on Seb Korda for 2025. I have no idea why. Yes, he's talented, but nothing suggests Top 10 and Slam contending is around the corner.

Ted Robinson is skeeving out over ADF's quads and body.

I’m still convinced OPs pic looks like he’s spinning his disc.

Sad for Alexis Galarneau. He is so cute and almost won his match.

Czech wonderkid, Jakub Mensik, overcomes number 1 seed Mopsy, in a 3-set thriller in Auckland.

Jakub's bouncing bulge was almost as entertaining as his shot-making.

Mopsy trail

ODS Tommy thru in 3

Agree with r448, it was his tine 2 to years ago , particularly his run at Wimbledon during that time . ADF'S time has passed

R336,r337,r338

I love that ODS Tommy means "our dear sweet" but also sounds like "odious."

I thought the "D" stood for "dumb"? I guess it works either way.

Some posters here have called him ODSD Tommy which stands for “Our Dear Sweet Dumb”.

FAA team or Giron of the Great Ass team?

Quite a few juicy first round match ups in the Aussie Open first round:

Sinner - Jarry

Monfils - Mpetschi-Perricard

Shelton - Nakashima

Musetti - Arnaldi

Struff - FAA

Other tantalizing first round AO matches:

Etcheverry-Cobolli

Lajovic-Kecmanovic

Diallo-Nardi

Sonego-Wawrinka

Popyrin-Moutet

Dimitrov-Fognini

Navone-Draper

Alcaraz-Shevchenko

Shang-ADF

I would love to see Basavareddy knock out Novaxx in the first round.

Boss Daddy and Carlitos hit together in Melbourne

FAA ousts GOTFA

R469. that pic of Carlos....Damn.

I fear Shelton is out in the first round - buh bye-

How can they put 2 of my faves the Mons and GMP against other in the first round

Dimitrov and Fognini - 2 old men going at it

Hoe many Nardi(s) are there ? ?

Yes!! FAA is back!!!

Carlitis looks very manly in that photo upthread. Nuce haircut

The charity doubles match featuring Djokovic (ugh), Murray, Azarenka and Zheng Qinwen was a lot of fun.

Was not impressed by Djokovic trying to play wheelchair tennis against actual wheelchair tennis champions though. It seemed really bad taste.

I have a really bad case of Carlitis.

Carlitos looks hot as fuck! Too bad about his draw. He will most likely have an early exit. He has always struggled in AO. That combined with a horrible draw means I'm not very optimistic. My money is on Sinner to win again. Zverev has a cakewalk draw too, so Zverev is my runner up for the title.

That IS a lot of enticing matchups R467, R468. Geesh.

Rublev-Fonesca will be the most dramatic of the first round matches. Either because it's a five-set epic or because Fonesca (who's coming in hot) will cause a total Rublev meltdown.

Wublev.

Wubbie team.

Rooting for Djokovic to win his 25th this year, but I'm thinking he's got a really tough draw, esp with Reilly Opelka in the 3rd round. And Carlos in the quarters is tough, too.

I am GOAT.

The GOAT of homophobes, yes.

Rooting for Basavareddy - who's coming in hot, having charged through to the SFs in Auckland bundling out Tabilo and Michelsen on the way - to steamroller Novaxx in the first round.

Also rooting for Jacob Fearnley to snuff out nasty POS Kyrgios in Round 1.

Pavvy G's online implosion would be beautiful to behold.

The Carlos v Novak possible QF is brutal for both. But the draw isn't that bad for either outside of that. Sinner is on the other half.

Speaking of, Sinner has a relatively easy draw in comparison to Carlos and Novak.

Zverev got the easiest draw.

Fritz got the worst draw of all: QF - Med, SF - Sinner, F Carlos/Novak to win.

Djoker Nole: I was poisoned!

Novak Djokovic has made shocking claims that he was poisoned with high levels of lead and mercury whilst detained in an Australian immigration hotel three years ago. The 37-year-old tennis star alleges the contamination came from food served at Melbourne's Park Hotel, where he was held during his visa cancellation ordeal ahead of that year's Australian Open.

I was going to suggest Djokovic had relaxed a bit and done well to improve his reputation recently. The AO crowd gave him a good reception at his recent charity night and even he was laughing along when people took the piss out him.

Then he comes out with this shit.

R487 He is awful. He is literally a moron. He's anti-science, anti-vaxx and believes in all this wacky junk science stuff. I wish he would just retire already. Really cannot stand him. His narcissistic personality and always playing the victim is annoying too.

Let's hope that that Park Hotel kitchen staff have been rehired by the hotel where Djokovic is currently staying.

Jack Draper looks great.

Jensen Brooksby is back. Not a fan, but a few tennis heads seem to be excited because he offers something different.

I posted above that Brooksby has revealed that he is autistic. That’s interesting at least.

To be fair, Draper ALWAYS looks great. Men's tennis always has some good looking guys, but he is a cut above...

I need to provide very very oral services to Big Jack and then he can get it if he promises to be a thoughtful gentle lover.

R491, what exactly does he offer? I remember a post match( Tsisipas v Brooksby) interview and Stefanos said Brooksby ' s game sucks, and all he does is mimick his opponenet' s game!

Coco has a tough first round match, so does Osaka. I predict Osaka will withdraw either mid match or pre match

Or post match even if she wins

Info4got to sign as r496

Big Jack is HAF @ R490

Is Rybakina not playing AO???

R500 She's scheduled to play Australian Emerson Jones in the first round on Sunday.

I love that they are all wearing sleeveless tops! So hot!!

I'm surprised most of you aren't talking about Zizou Bergs. I think he's incredibly handsome, and he has beautiful legs too.

[quote] I'm surprised most of you aren't talking about Zizou Bergs.

ZaSu Pitts Bergs won.

Handsome, indeed

Djokovic is literally crazy.

FAA snuffs out ODS Tommy's top 10 dreams... for now.

Sixteenth ATP Final for Felix incoming.

Tommy Trail

Thiccmanovic

Go FAA, attaboy!!

I dont like Draper!!

R511 Why? He is hot. Is it his game you don't like?

r506, a reporter did a story on this, conducted a mocking experiment and was surprised at the result.

Vibrations aside, many people have strong opinions about the water they drink and what's in it and what label it has on the bottle.

"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration"- Nicola Tesla

Djokovic really is nutso. An academic in food policy says that it's unlikely he was poisoned given that he barely stayed at the immigration hotel and there haven't been any other reports. I can't see any credible reason to poison him either.

I would poison him, but I can categorically guarantee I wasn't there!

R514, I doubt it was “poisoned” but any food in an “immigration hotel” is likely to be pretty vile.

R516 Direct Djokovic quote though:

"I had a really high level of heavy metal. Heavy metal. I had the lead, very high level of lead and mercury."

Not a lot of leeway around that, to be honest. That's a very serious claim.

Couldn't Novaxx just block the effects with his magical mystical powers of the ancient pyramids?

R517 Novaxx is nuts. He believes in energy water or some shit. I don't believe a single thing he says. He also said the world was against him because he refused to vaxx. He was not allowed into Australia because of the vaccination rules. He knew about it, yet still refused to get vaxxed. It was his choice. Yet he claims he was unfairly treated, lol. This is just another of his many insane claims. Nobody has any interest in poisoning him ffs! He is just totally and utterly fucking crazy.

That Novaxx refused to get vaccinated wasn't what set most of us off. It was that he lied and equivocated and wheedled around his vaccination status, trying to weasel his way into the AO.

R520 Exactly! I don't agree with being anti-vaxx but it's people's choice if they want to be stupid and refuse to vaxx. Their body their choice. I actually respect people who stand up for their convictions. I don't agree with not vaxxing, but I still respect it. What I don't respect is complaining after the fact. He knew about the consequences. He still did it. Fine, then own it. Don't fucking complain! Own it and accept it. Don't act like the fucking victim! That's just wrong.

The weaseling his way into the country attempt when he knew the rules and was unvaxxed was where he lost the plot. Just bow out gracefully for your convictions. Making a big show of it was egregious and off-putting. And quite frankly intentionally misguided.

^Weaseling! That's perfect. Put it in the burn book.

British Sensation - Emma Raducanu would like these girls to know that she is coming for them, and that this year is her year.

His attitude stinks. He is a cheater!

Iga looks nothing like Jodie Foster. Nothing about Iga says Jodie Foster to me

R524, we’ll get tired of all her winning!

R526, that's okay. I think she does, we're entitled to have different views...

ZaSu Pitts Bergs team or G*E*M*S Life team?

Someone: I like ____!

DL: Fuck you, eat shit, he's awful, you should die.

Is this where we talk about Hobart International?

Yes, absolutely hate people who play the victim!!!

La Monf wins his lucky 13th title at 38.

Sexy MF Felix back to title winning ways.

Steamrollers an off-key Korda in the Adelaide final.

R534 Yay! I have always liked FAA. Hopefully he can build onto this and perform well in AO. This should give him a confidence boost.

bizarre trophy

Tippy Turtle over JPeg.

Jon Wertheim is back on Tennis Channel after being taken off the air "indefinitely" for making a hot mic comment about Barbora Krejcikova's fivehead.

That’s the right thing to do. He’s a good guy.

Wertheim is annoying. I didn't miss him.

Babs was too upset to play the Australian Open

Well isn't she an oil painting.

[quote] Well isn't she an oil painting.

A Picasso more specifically.

Here we go!

For those of you who do not have ESPN+, ESPN Deportes is currently showing live play (and you may prefer the Spanish commentary). Coverage on ESPN2 should begin at 10:00 pm (EST).

Yay! I'm so happy happy slam starting.

TSN2 and TSN3 in Canada

Rainy the first day, so only the show courts are seeing action. Great-ass Arthur Fils (who should be wearing shorter, tighter shorts) is playing right now - and down one set to some tall Finnish dude.

Some one needs to start a AO Slam dedicated thread.

Fifty more responses, R549, and there will be one. Muriel used to red tag dedicated tennis threads before permanent prime time.

It's starting! Yay!

John McEnroe is dressed like a 70s lounge singer.

Wuud team or Munar team?

Who will win this match - brown boy or beige boy?

Good lord, Kei has risen!

Kei "Pond" Nishikori.

Nole.

Damn why do we have to search 3 or 4 different providers to watch the tennis? I’m not fucking subscribing to yet another streaming service. Grrrr.

Even worse, ESPN is riddled with obnoxious commercials interrupting the action despite the high subscription cost. Fuck off, Disney!

de Munar

Ruud is looking FINE.

Especially his ass.

Wuud

Do we consider Casper an official DL boyfriend? And if so does that mean his fiancee is a new PP? Also, where is the official Aussie Open thread?

Casper is both a DL boyfriend and specifically my boyfriend so BACK OFF bitch.

Did Caroline retire again?

Ruud won!

Wtf happened to Pedro Martinez? He used to be so hot.

Wuud.

Wuud team.

Do we know if all the attention starved slut PPs are in Melbourne?

Dokic slimmed down some. She still big but not the size of a house anymore.

Legz+ bulging nicely in his trademark short-shorts to give everyone a Day One lift!

HAWT. A new DL boyfriend is born.

Opelka is still injured....or so it seems

Hadi Habib.....is a hunk

Arthur Fils in full flow, displaying a delicious treasure trail.

new thread here when this one is done

Wuud

snack cakes

half shirts are a good look

Chewbaca thru in straights

Thanks for the new thread, R576.

[quote] Emma Raducanu snubs treatment for insect bites over heightened doping concerns

Fils, full stretch.

Who play in Margaret Court Court today?

Banner [She-Hulk] headline:

[quote] Defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has admitted she is “getting really close to retirement”.

^^Lesbians, big ones

^^^^ RFC!

R587 JFC!

RFC Jumpscare!

Rat-faced cunt.

Il Gingio.

Wublev.

Woobie.

Wuud.

Woon

Legz

Brat

She-Hulk

Shapo

Minotaur

ODS Tommy

Medwed

New thread. Thanks to OP of new thread.