Yep in retrospect only a fool would deny that 9 sets of tennis to make the 3rd round is less than ideal and to have had consecutive opponents ranked in the thirties in R1 and R2 statistically unlikely when there are 128 players in the draw and the seeding system means you avoid 1-32 until R3.

I do however stand by the statement that the R1 draw was much worse for Nick the Greek than Andy, as I think rather than being filled with horror on hearing the draw, Andy merely heard the dulcet tones of "bright eyes" and images of the impending slaughter of his little fury long eared antipodes friend with the potty mouth. a man who is normally allowed to hop around the early rounds of the ATP free of the threat of myxomatosis,. Young Nick ( no lets caller him thumper) merely saw Farmer Andy with his flat cap, green wellies and double barrelled shot gun coming his way. Let's face it thumper ended up in as rabbit pie pretty pronto.

Mannarino however didn't quite play his part, I really enjoyed watching him although his quirky short backswing, short stature and shuttling style was not to my wife's liking. He made way pretty pronto for the antics of a young Danny Baker in our manor as soon as her beady eyes spotted the remote. Given that last year she had returned from Wimbledon full of the joys of spring/ early summer having enjoyed an unfettered view from the front row of Mr Nadals torso during his disembowlment by Thumper this was an unforeseen and brutal response indeed to Andys second round draw.

Like you I think she would have much preferred a tall muscular lothario ranked between 80-150, in retrospect I regret my haste and lack of detail in my 2nd round analysis (but I was not alone!).

As an act of penance in the hope of an easier passage tonight/ tomorrow morning I will now go away and spend my Saturday pouring over the fine detail of the administration and delivery of a vocational training scheme requiring finely tuned motor skills and transition from competence to expert through delivery of a complex curriculum in a competive environment akin to the ATP tour.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 5th of September 2015 02:49:19 AM

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 5th of September 2015 02:50:45 AM

Chardy and Lopez aren't a huge surprise - and I'd guess that Djokovic/Cilic would be less happy about meeting Chardy than meeting Ferrer. Indeed, with a few exceptions, the top half now looks like a who's who of dangerous, erratic floaters and people on streaks. Interesting stuff. (Albeit slightly depressing; at a "players who make you want to support them" level, I hate to see Goffin lose to RBA and Nadal to Fognini!) In the bottom half, Wawrinka can't complain about his path to the quarters, but the rest of the draw is, as you say, pretty solid.