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Good afternoon, Elle!
A fine day here!
No Pine Cone today.
Maybe during the week.
I read that about Lopez.
And he is in the first race at Ascot, too!
A potentially hectic schedule!
I have had a busyish morning, but going to watch the racing, now.
Finished my puzzle. A good one!

Hi, Rusty!
I am in now for the rest of the day....
Did you place a bet on "Lope Y"?
I feel that you should?
I think it may be a good omen......
I wonder why the Skupski brothers, Ken and Neal, are not playing together?
I had thought that they usually did?
Yes, if all goes well for him, a potentially busy afternoon for Feliciano !
I have abandoned my crossword ...at least for the time being!
I and the setter must dwell on different planets......
I am having a terrible time with it!
(I usually enjoy the Saturday puzzle)
Perhaps inspiration may strike after I have watched some tennis.....
And drunk some coffee.....

Hello, Elle!
No, I am just doing Willie's horse on the last.
Lope came second.
Hope you enjoy the tennis.

Update, Elle!
Here's a clip of Francesca Cumani singing at Ascot!
Don't think she'd go far on BGT, despite AP's help!

https://www.trendsmap.com/twitter/tweet/1142116757290868736

She knows her horses, though!

Elle, a couple of bits of tennis chat...

One Skupski brother was invited to play with Jamie Murray and said it was too good an opportunity to miss. His brother was fine with this, apparently.

Auger-Aliassime has beaten Tsisipas in their three last matches. I was surprised when I read that.

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, the tennis is going great!
I was pleased to see Gilles Simon win his Semi-final against Daniil Medvedev.
The second match on Centre court may well be another battle .......
Lopez is playing the Canadian youngster , Felix. Auger Aliassime, only 18 years old, who put out the 20 yr old Greek player!
I had never seen Felix Auger Aliassime play before.......wow, is he good!
I can see now how he managed to beat Stephanos Tsitsipas!
Another bit of news...Joe Salisbury ( a Brit) and his partner have just put out the Bryan twins!
The tennis is just going over onto the Red Button.....
No, I wouldn't advise Francesca to give up her day job!!!
Good luck with Willie's horse!
I have my fingers crossed!



Ah, thank you, Malone!
I did not know either of those facts.....
Having watched the young Canadian play this afternoon, though, I am no longer surprised at his beating Tsitsipas!
What a talented young player!

Hello, Elle!
I think ITV asked the viewers who they wanted to sing the song, and they voted for Francesca!
Fair play to her, she gave it a go!
More like the thing you would see at Cheltenham, rather than Royal Ascot!
She is part of the ITV racing team who were singing along with her.
Willie's horse came third.
But Willie was not here.
He has had a "small procedure" in hospital, and is recovering at home, according to Ruby ("Ted's fourth favourite child"!).
How is your tennis going?

Hi, Rusty!
Oh yes, I take my proverbial hat off to Francesca......she was a good sport and gave it her best shot!
(I cannot sing, either!)
The tennis has gone well.....
Feliciano Lopez won his Semi -final against the young Canadian...a very well -deserved win!
And then went on to play with Andy Murray in the unfinished Quarter-finals match from last night....
They won that quite quickly with a tie- breaker in the second set.
And now, immediately, because of the time element , Andy and Feliciano have gone on to play their Semi-final Doubles match against Kontinen and Peers.
This is in action right now.......
Whatever happens here, Lopez will be very tired for his Final against Simon tomorrow!
(And if he and Andy win this.......and Lopez has to play both Singles and Doubles tomorrow, I think he'll be on his knees!)

Hello, Elle!
I like Francesca!
She is very knowledgeable about horses.
Her father, Luca, has retired now, but was a top trainer, including two Derby winners.
The Queen's tennis has been very entertaining this week.
Feliciano is going great guns and good to see Andy Murray competing again.
Think he's looking for a partner in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon.
Ash Barty turned him down!
Does Laura Robson still play?
I have not heard of her for ages.

Hi, Rusty!
I stuck with the tennis until the end!
(I have missed the first hour of "The Voice Kids"!)
But it was worth it......
It was a great match, and Lopez and Murray won ....
When the score was one set all, instead of playing a third set, they played a Championship's tie break...... this meant playing till 10 points were reached, with a margin of two.
My word, it was nerve racking!!
So now Feliciano Lopez has to play two matches tomorrow!
I can understand Ash Barty turning down Andy's offer......
She will be wanting to concentrate on the Singles...she must be in with a good chance of winning the title!
There are not many serious Singles players these days who "double" or "triple" up to play in the Doubles events.
I don't know about Laura Robson, Rusty?
I will try looking her up, when "The Voice" finishes.....