[counter_ puncher]

Andy‘s return to clay does not bear any fruit. H dominates him with power play, good hands at the net and precise shots. Andy cannot counter at all.

[Aileen]

Andy broken again.  Serve rhythm completely gone.  Weather conditions have deteriorated too, and that's not helping him.

[scotnadian]

I’ve been waiting over 7 years to watch Andy v Djoko again. (2022 Madrid doesn’t count because Andy had food poisoning.)

Didn’t even matter to me who won. Just to see them once more facing each other across the court would be enough.

Ach well…

Andy should go talk to himself in the mirror like USO 2012.

(Also, good to see Judy there)

[Aileen]

I can't see him playing RG either, even in the doubles.   He has though entered for the Surbiton Trophy which starts on 2nd June, so maybe he'll just confine himself to that.

[counter_ puncher]

In the match against Barrere in Bordeaux he did not look very committed to the cause (he went down 5:0 before he decided to wake up). Tonight I had the impression that he was more motivated, which I expect from someone who might play his last tournaments. But in the course of the match H became stronger and stronger and Andy got ever more under pressure. The fire in his belly will simply not burn.

[Aileen]

^ 12:00 pm BST for the avoidance of doubt.

[Aileen]

I thought that he needed to play the French Open to help with a desire to play the Olympics again. He very much needs points and more play on clay. With a new format for the Olympics he could still manage that just?

The qualification required for the Olympics is for a player to have represented their country in the Davis Cup or Billie Jean King Cup for three of the following years: 2022, 2023, and 2024.  Andy had  four appearances, three in 2022 and one in 2023.  I think he only intends to play doubles anyway, with Joe Salisbury like he did in Tokyo.

PS - Have since discovered that Andy would also need to go up a bit in the rankings, preferably above No. 70, to qualify, although he could be eligible for one of two International Tennis Federation places reserved for former Grand Slam champions and Olympic gold medallists in both ATP and WTA, provided their ranking is in the top 400.

Fortunately entry to the doubles would be a lot easier.  Players ranked in the ATP and WTA doubles Top 10 on 10 June will get direct entry into the doubles event if they are nominated by their country.  Those players need to be able to team up with a player from their country ranked in the Top 300 in either singles or doubles, so as Salisbury is currently ranked No. 5, no problem.