My first reaction was why is Watson still getting picked, but assume she is only in for the doubles (with Dart?)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/67098077

Think squad works ok like this, but harsh on Barnett/Nicholls who are currently on their way to a possible WTA125 final.

Still think you don't need Watson,  with Dart much more capable of deputising in the singles if there is an issue with Boulter or Burrage.  And Barnett/Nicholls are your best doubles team, and if Dart has played a singles match, it will be detrimental to a Dart/Watson team?

And who do they pick as 5 now?

Fixed.

Has to be this type of link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GE-n-0067c but must be http:// instead of https://

Thanks.  Think the links are odd on my phone, so should use my laptop really.

Saw Kristin Hersh the other day.



https://youtu.be/7GE-n-0067c?si=aqhSsK89elYWGmZJ


 



Not my video, but so special to see someone who was/is such an important artist playing in a room with less than 100 people in.  Can't imagine many of those who were so influenced by the Throwing Muses doing this.  She is still producing original music too.

Would recommend if she in your area. Good to not be looking over a sea of phones and nobody was chucking beer around too.


EDIT; Tried to fix invalid link David, not sure if worked.

Anyone know why Cash and Pattern are playing with different partners this week and next?

Don't know, could be just that Patten doesn't want to trawl round China.  Feels like a mistake if so, as a lot of tournaments are a bit soft right now as people wind down. 

Both played in same event this week cash getting knocked out in round one and patten making the final

both in same comp again next week

cash seems to have linked up with the American Galloway and patten trying out another new partner


meanwhile draper is playing in the final on challenger tour tv and back into the top 100

Saw Draper made the final.  Had a brief hope that we had 5 in the top 100, but Broady has been booted already.

Did you see Boulter today, didn't see any of it, as was working.  Leading both sets 5-4 with the serve against Sabalenka is seriously good going; even if she lost both in the end.  Did you watch it?

https://www.pokernews.com/news/2023/09/stuart-rutter-runs-away-with-the-2023-gukpt-luton-main-event-44538.htm

well played stu

10 ball please.

Great stuff Stu

Anyone know why Cash and Pattern are playing with different partners this week and next?

Don't know, could be just that Patten doesn't want to trawl round China.  Feels like a mistake if so, as a lot of tournaments are a bit soft right now as people wind down.  I saw someone tweet last week that Guadalajara was a really soft WTA 1000 and it was a good chance for Sakkari, and she went ahead and won it.

In other news, Liam Broady has made it to the top 100 not long before his 30th birthday.  Must have been a hell of a slog over the years for him.  Guess he is making a profit at last, and will get straight into the Aussie Open.

And Dart and Burrage have made it through qualifying to their tournaments in Asia.  Good to see them both competing.  Finally found out why Katie Swan isn't playing much, she has aggravated an old back injury.  I assume she is going to be ably to protect her ranking a bit, but it will still be a struggle to get back near the top 100.  Way more chance for Radacanu as she has more atlent and is bound to get more wild cards.

Jack Draper not able to get protected ranking entries? i noticed he has been playing in smaller events

You are limited to how many times you use protected rankings.  I think it is 12 times.  So if you aren't feeling up to competing at the highest level yet, there is no point wasting one of the 12. As Draper is on the borders of top 100, and never top 32, then I don't think he needs it for slams.  Guess he'd use it for 1000s or 500s when he gets to near full fitness, though not entirely sure on best strat.

Kyle Edmund can't have many events left now, and dare say he could have used it better?

Anyone know why Cash and Pattern are playing with different partners this week and next?

Don't know, could be just that Patten doesn't want to trawl round China.  Feels like a mistake if so, as a lot of tournaments are a bit soft right now as people wind down.  I saw someone tweet last week that Guadalajara was a really soft WTA 1000 and it was a good chance for Sakkari, and she went ahead and won it.

In other news, Liam Broady has made it to the top 100 not long before his 30th birthday.  Must have been a hell of a slog over the years for him.  Guess he is making a profit at last, and will get straight into the Aussie Open.

And Dart and Burrage have made it through qualifying to their tournaments in Asia.  Good to see them both competing.  Finally found out why Katie Swan isn't playing much, she has aggravated an old back injury.  I assume she is going to be ably to protect her ranking a bit, but it will still be a struggle to get back near the top 100.  Way more chance for Radacanu as she has more atlent and is bound to get more wild cards.

Bloody hell, did anyone see that?

GB 0-40 and 4-5 down in the final set and just won.  Don't even think the French did much wrong.  Seemed on top for nearly all that doubles.

Can confirm Dan Evans is in form.

Hannah Klugman has made the last 8 of the US Open girls at 14, beating the girl who beat her at Wimbledon. She is still in the doubles too.  She is quite a bit younger than my eldest who is doing her GCSEs this year.

Well Tikay would be proud of that bok.   Didn't win a game and retired at 0-6, 0-3. Looks like the heat got to her.  Can't see her making the doubles as she'll be due on fairly soon. 

Cheers Stu.

How are you? Busy I expect.

How's the family?

How's the alcohol consumption? Surely you must have slacked off a bit?

I am well thanks!

Family are all good, all 3 of them back to school yesterday so Mrs Hopkin can get back to normal!

Click to see full-size image.

I still enjoy a fair few pints, but overall I would say yes it has slacked off a fair bit.

Will no doubt have a few next Friday as I'm off to Doncaster races with Matt, Giblin and a few others.

That is if I survive Wednesday! https://www.justgiving.com/page/monarch-1689845298867

Good luck with that, never ever doing that again.   And remember to breathe... seriously.

I almost missed this.

https://twitter.com/IanGas/status/1695821876088480227?t=SLS-JZPDKCRn-dj-Id2Z3Q&s=19

Congrats

It's gardening woes time of year.

Watering systems are notoriously tricky. I assume you're talking pot plants?

BTW- Just for clarification, when I say pot plants I mean plants in pots.

Am watering tomatoes, dead cucumbers, dead peppers and dead aubergines. 

Am on my 3rd timer, as two have died.  This is the least successful, but it wasn't until just before I went away that I realised there was no life left in the previous timer, so didn't get any time for a trial run. 

Needed to leave someone at home like your missus did.  Feel it would be a good test of character of my youngest.

I know it was wrong, but surely, not THIS wrong.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66732327


And I'm not defending Rubiales. Why the Hell couldn't he immediately say something like, "I'm so sorry, I apologise unequivocally, it was a spontaneous thing that happened in the excitement of the moment. It will never happen again".

Instead he's saying it was consensual. "I asked her and she said yes". What utter bollocks.

All he is guilty of IMO is being an absolute idiot.

Meh, he has a lot of history.  Don't think there should be a court case, but he has been an absolute idiot way more than once.

Gardening is so pissing me off right now too.  Working away again and that only leaves weekends.  Not cut through any cables, but set up a watering system before I went away for a week.  It managed to water one plant and everything else is looking like your yukka did.

Hannah Klugman has made the last 8 of the US Open girls at 14, beating the girl who beat her at Wimbledon. She is still in the doubles too.  She is quite a bit younger than my eldest who is doing her GCSEs this year.

i know your more a singles fan than doubles (i am other way) but have you noticed cash/pattern's climb up the rankings
they missed the French and Wimbledon this year when Patten was injured and cash and his stand ins did nothing.

just outside the top 50 now mainly with results on the challenger tour.

would love too see them get just a little higher so they can make the main draws of the bigger events

Don't really pay much attention, but have vaguely followed them.

Now TV very annoying.  Boulter playing the girl in form and they switched it off for Murray. Am hoping Draper does Hurkacz quickly so we can see the end.

For those on Now TV, it is still possible to watch on Betfair tiny screen.  Fairly maddening they didn't even go to the last Boulter game even after Draper had won.  Waffle then adverts... 

Quite the double for GB there anyway.