Women’s tennis is hugely supported - a full house at @hsbcbank.bsky.social Championships final in London today, following packed crowds all week. A lesson for @rolandgarros.com - schedule the women matches properly and crowds will come. @tennispodcast.bsky.social @thetennisletter.bsky.social

“I can not believe that you are up at 3.00am watching tennis” a tired Meadow thinks. “ Hang on, though, is that Emma Raducanu playing so well - now I get it!”
@thetennisletter.bsky.social
@tennispodcast.bsky.social
@anitahope.bsky.social

The US Open has announced a complete revamp of the mixed doubles. Played in the week before the US Open proper starts, over only 2 days with only 16 teams playing shortened matches. This is a set of woeful decisions. All for money. A disgrace. @tennispodcast.bsky.social @thetennisletter.bsky.social

Top players can absorb extreme paced, deep shots by returning on one knee, but I have never seen a player going down on both knees and hitting the ball back (and winning the point!). Extraordinary skill by Iga Swiatek.
@tennispodcast.bsky.social
@thetennisletter.bsky.social

Sad to see that Goran is no longer Elena Rybakina’s coach - only lasted about a month. This is a worrying sign for her career.
@thetennisletter.bsky.social
@thetennispodcast.bsky.social

Credit to Australian Open in standing by their commitment to equal number of men’s and women’s matches on main show courts. But they more often get the worse slots. And this is a new low - “let’s just get the women’s matches out of the way”. AO must do better.

Great to see a record (in the Open era) 6 British players through to round 2 of the Australian Open. All have tough next rounds, but the best of luck to Emma, Katie, Harriet, Jodie, Jack and Jake.

The Australian Open makes dreadful scheduling decisions. On day 2 they have kept up their record by putting the 5 times grand slam (2nd most slams of active players after Djokovic) & reigning French Open champion on 3rd court. Awful. @tennispodcast.bsky.social
@thetennisletter.bsky.social

A recently retired member of the Big 4 and icon of British sport, or a 60 year old Andy Murray fan and sofa surfer. Who makes the better model of the Andy Murray designed T shirt for UNISEF? A great cause either way. @tennispodcast.bsky.social @thetennisletter.bsky.social @thetennisgazette.com

What a lovely couple; they suit each other.

Sunday afternoon at The Royal Albert Hall watching @thenewsagents.com. Used to go to theatre to see plays, musicals or music stars, but now equally likely to be comedians or Podcasters. And great to see most of the audience were young (obviously not @anitahope.bsky.social or me!). Fun afternoon

Far too much of what the President Elect & many around him have repeatedly said (re Ukraine & more widely about Putin) is incredibly worrying. For democratic values sake, I am hoping that when in power rhetoric is replaced by patriotism & this depiction of the White House does not become reality

@WTA, ATP & ITF do not allow Russia to host any tournaments. Russian and Belarusian players are not banned in any way to compete on the tours. And any player can compete in exhibition events hosted in Russia - this latest one sponsored by Gazprom (a sanctioned company). Tennis must do better.

Family selfie in The New Forest. Meadow says “Sage, why is Jon in the photo with us - and with those dark glasses on!?” Sage: “Humour him, Meadow, and he may give us some more treats.”

The girls all rugged up for today’s New Forest walk, as the rain stays away, but the temperature drops. Meadow being extra sweet to @anitahope.bsky.social as Sage waits her turn!

The New Forest is such a wonderfully relaxing place to holiday. A wonderful sky this morning.

I think it totally appropriate for my first post on Bluesky to be a photo of our wonderful vizslas, Sage and Meadow, during our holiday this week (a break from the rain!) in The New Forest. Although spoilt somewhat by me being between them! @anitahope.bsky.social