Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Hi, Rusty!
I have just been talking to my cousin, up in Blackburn.
They are all suffering from varying degrees of colds, coughs and flu.....
These bugs are hard to avoid!
But otherwise , all are fine.
I think the Edinburgh Cross Country course is the same each year?
It certainly looked familiar to me, watching it.
Leonard Korir won the men's race again........
I remember his just pipping Callum Hawkins at the post last year!
I don' t think I shall be staying up to watch the live tennis!
Is it likely to be on view again during "daylight" hours, tomorrow, do you think?

Hello, Elle!
I think I have another bug!
Have a tickle in my throat, anyway!
The tennis will be on a large part of the day, "live".
I think BBC are doing highlights on Saturday.
Maybe best if you had a tennis programme to see who is playing when?
I have had a little bet on Sloane Stephens to win, at 40/1.
I am allowed to dream!
She plays Miss Zhang of China in the first round.
The Tay salmon fishing season opens tomorrow.
Not sure which "known" person is doing the honours, though.

Hi, Rusty!
Oh, dear, I do hope you are not catching another cold?
Maybe you could gargle?
( I am not really in a position, though, to offer advice on how to prevent colds!!! )
I shall try to watch some tennis during the daytime, then.....depending on who is playing whom, when.
I have found the following schedule, which I assume will update each day........
https://ausopen.com/schedules
I wonder how EuroSport will decide, though, which matches to show?
There will be so many at first.......
I think that Sloane Stevens, surprisingly, has been off her game for quite a while?
You may lose your bet!
Your son will be looking forward, then, to the Salmon Season opening?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, Sloane is not playing well, and I fully expect her to lose, but I like her, hence my money is on her.
Just for fun!
She does great interviews!
Madison Keys, who Sloane beat in the US Open, is at much shorter odds, which alerted me to the fact that Sloane was off her game.
I have no idea how EuroSport will choose their games.
Follow the top seeds probably.
I do not think Laura Robson qualified?

Hi, Rusty!
No, I think both Laura Robson and Tara Moore went out in the Qualifying rounds.
After Laura's defeat, there was some controversy over the inequality of draw sizes in the men’s and women’s qualifying events.
Anne Keothavong, the GB Fed Cup captain complained about there being 128 places for men and only 96 for the women players.
I don't know what, if anything, has happened as a result of this?
I think Heather Watson is playing, though, isn't she?
And hopefully, Jo Konta will do well.
I have high hopes for Roger to win the men's event!

Hello, Elle!
I read what Anne Keothavong said, but Laura's singles ranking is 227 in the world, just now.
Nowhere near the qualifying mark.
Heather is playing, and Jo.
Roger will not be far away at the end.
He is a remarkable player!
I hope he goes well!

Hi, Rusty!
I do not really understand how the qualifying system works - or even how a player "qualifies" to play in a "qualifying round"?
If you can follow that somewhat convoluted sentence?
I know that Laura played Amadine Hesse of France in a qualifying round, and was soundly beaten.
It does not seem fair though that the male players have so many more available places than do the women.
I wonder who decides these things.
EuroSport Player is telling me that the Aussie Open started transmission tonight at 10pm...but I could not find it?
I think I shall go to bed......nurture my cold..... and take the dog out in the early morning as usual!

Good morning, Elle!
Sloane is out in the first round!
Dearie me!
I have no idea how the qualifiers "qualify".
I saw somewhere that Laura was due to play CoCo on Wednesday, but CoCo was beaten today, so it is a bit of a mystery!
The tournament is "live" on both Eurosport channels now.
I am off out soon.
Annual eye check, so probably no puzzle today if my vision is blurred from the drops!

Good morning, Rusty!
Fell dreich here!
I have just finished cleaning a very wet and muddy dog!
That is surprising about Sloane.... I was not expecting her to do particularly well, but to go out so soon......!
Now Laura.......how strange that you saw a match advertised for her on Wednesday.....
As far as I am aware, she didn't make it through the qualifying rounds......she went out in straight sets to Amandine Hesse of France.
As you say, somewhat of a mystery?
How did the eye check go?
I hope all was well?

Hello, Elle!
Eyes are fine!
Venus Williams is out in the first round, too.
I saw something about CoCo playing Laura on Wednesday, but Laura did not make the draw and CoCo is out in the first round.
Odd!
Are you getting anything on your EuroPlayer.
Both channels are showing the tennis.