The King of Clay 2023

You're in the Commentary Box

Vivre Venus and Bianca! Allez allez allez s'il vous plait!
Betc 6 Jun

The 8 player Greendale Tennis Club have been in Warkworth's slipstream for a week but have finally pulled off a pass by picking 15 out of 16 winners in R4. Don't write of Warkworth as they picked 16 out of 18 and could emerge from the fog when least expected.
The Ump 6 Jun

Gilly11 and Marcelo retain their lead after R4 and are now 4 points clear of the rest. Time to look ahead to the finals you two as the squeeze is coming :)
The Ump 6 Jun

Mike and Bianca won another nailbiter last night. 10-8 again in the super tiebreak. Now into the qtr finals.
The Ump 5 Jun

Mike Venus is out of the doubles but he and Canadian Bianca Andresscu won a nailbiting 1st round mixed dubs match. Bianca has a Kiwi connection as she is coached by Christophe Lambert, the former Tennis NZ HP director. Mike and Bianca's victory celebration has launched them into the Caption Contest. Allez :)
The Ump 4 Jun

My caption looks dumb when I re-read the instructions and it's supposed to be what they are saying themselves. Too late and no way to delete - oh well! It's not an easy one...
virgcat 4 Jun

What caption virgcat? Let's pretend it never existed :)
The Ump 4 Jun

Merci beaucoup 🙏
virgcat 4 Jun

5 sets to the Kiwis in the doubles. The mixed doubles are not included if that's what you're wondering SmashemNat??
The Ump 5 Jun

How many sets have the kiwis won in doubles?
SmashemNat 5 Jun

New leaders again after R3 - unseeded Gilly11 and Marcelo on 43 points.
Warkworth hang onto the Groups lead in a round where a lot of hopes crumbled.
The Ump 4 Jun

Rybakina forced to withdraw due to illness...
Jjdubbs 3 Jun

how can Andrey R win the 2nd set 6-0 and then lose the next 3??
Red mist 3 Jun

Oh the pain ;)
The Ump 3 Jun

Tennis is a funny game and mental strength isn't easy.
SmashemNat 5 Jun

Kiwiskier has tumbled off piste and Skywalker leads into the weekend.
The Ump 3 Jun

I’m killing it this tournament! 4 picks and 4 losses 😂
Yablindref 2 Jun

Yes I can UMP. We have been close before so we will stay focused this time!! TROY
TROY 2 Jun

Kiwiskier is the 3rd different leader already in the King of Clay. Lots of black runs to negotiate yet before any apres ski fun :)
The Ump 2 Jun

Warkworth TC take the Groups race lead. Can captain Troy keep the team focused?
The Ump 2 Jun

Our 2 long name leaders had a short life at the top and Zakg takes the lead after day 4.
The Ump 1 Jun

Happy with my first round picks both winners. All the best to Michael Venus in first round doubles.
Queenie 31 May

Picking Women's Winners Made Easy.
Study: Current ranking, recent past form, win/loss record, history on clay, performance under pressure, likely weather on the day. Identify the logical and statistical winner. Pick the other one.(*!*)*
Ad Alta 31 May

hahahah classic. Love it.
SmashemNat 31 May

Considering that a record 14 women's seeds bit the dust in the first round, that's not such a bad way to go!
anotherkiwi 31 May

So true ! All over the show and inconsistent - no logic at all to the form they show
Red mist 1 Jun

2 mouthfuls lead on max points after the 3 day long round 1. For the record they are Roi de terre battu and Saruch De Bpinoza - both on 16 points. May your lead be as long as your names
The Ump 31 May

Royal Oak Rascals lead the Group scoreboard. A hot start by those rascals with 19 wins out of a possible 22.
The Ump 31 May

Michael Venus plays his 1st round doubles tonight. Alert pickers will click that the guess for the number of doubles sets, that Kiwis will win in the whole tourney, are not due until Wed night. Is that going to help? yes/no/maybe/no idea :)
The Ump 30 May

Radu Albot won in 4 sets 2 days ago but it’s not showing up in the scores. Did something happen that i haven’t heard about or is it just an oversight? Fingers crossed I’ll get the credit. Thanks
kiki 30 May

Same thing happening with Korda
Jjdubbs 30 May

And Tsitsipas + Avanesyan
Jjdubbs 30 May

Your account is now in credit Kiki and you don't even need to shout coffee. The missing scores have been updated.
And thanks to those other alert pickers. Where would Ump be without you :)
The Ump 30 May

Roi de terre battue scores two 8 pointers to make the best possible start.
The Ump 29 May

Caty McNally is out as well, replaced by Lucky Loser Camila Osorio.
anotherkiwi 29 May

Also Ben Bonzi is replaced by Yannick Haffmann. The one picker who had Bonzi now gets Hanfmann. Nobody had picked McNally so no damage.
The Ump 29 May

They should have picked McNally, because Osorio won!
anotherkiwi 30 May

Results coming latish arvo…
The Ump 29 May

Anna Kalinskaya has withdrawn from the women's singles, replaced by Lucky Loser Erika Andreeva.
anotherkiwi 28 May

Tks for the heads up anotherkiwi. The 6 who picked Kalinskaya now get Andreeva.
The Ump 28 May

I’m not sure if it’s just me…. but I saved my picks last night, but when I looked today they were not showing saved….I’ve saved them a few times but each time when I look later they aren’t showing.🤔
Cec 28 May

Good to see you got it sorted Cec. As Rafa says 'a slow start means nothing over 5 sets.
The Ump 28 May

Yah yah yah. It’s tennis picking time !!!!
Billy 28 May

looking at photos of Rafa"s past prizegivings,at least this year he'll save on dental bills
clevedoncleverclubby 27 May

I might want to bet on a qualifier if I was you. Seems to me that the rankings are the ones unqualified
aixtq 27 May

Qualies finished overnight and the Draws will be loaded by lunchtime. Hold tight pickers - the action is not far off 😎
The Ump 27 May

Well Ump, this is going to be interesting, I'm Casper fan but might gave to wait till next year. Carlos I think. Ladies well frankly haven't a clue!!!!!
beaver 27 May

...
aixtq 27 May

Great to be back - I’ve been looking forward to it. New players will make the competition interesting. Will miss Rafa though.
arky13 26 May

Great to have you back Arky13. Just so you don't miss Rafa too much the background is a collage of his 14 wins.
The Ump 26 May

Great Rafa pic! Hard to imagine he's just played a shot, maybe just a celebration?
bobco 25 May

Both a shot and celebration - but not of the final point in beating Argentine Mariano Puerta in the final
The Ump 26 May

Soo pleased to see you back . Our little group of women had to make our own competition for the last grand slam . It was good ,but not as good as yours . We play for bottles of wine so it’s pretty serious stuff 😀
blins 23 May

You cannot be serious Blins! It's against the rules haha. So is it a bottle each and winner takes the lot?
The Ump 23 May

Four of us play and the winner gets two bottles from each player, so six . It’s a great incentive to do well 🥂🍾🍾
blins 23 May

Hey Ump and Mrs Ump - so glad to see you back! After having the Aussi Open off I was afraid you'd come to like being relaxed. One last plea for a wooden spoon for the last player - have a real interest in that.Cheers!
Nancy Jenkins 23 May

C'mon Nancy you can do better than the wooden spoon. Anyone else like a bottom of the heap prize??
The Ump 26 May

Just 8 signed up so far! If all goes well, i've got a real chance of finishing 8th this year! Hoooo harrrrr! :-)
IluvPetraslegs 23 May

Finish in the top 10 and Ump's gonna find you a special prize :)
The Ump 23 May

Welcome to the King of Clay picking game. For the regulars, it's been 8 months since the last game so are you fizzing to play?
Good picking :)
The Ump 21 May

Heck, I could've missed out on this. If there were notification emails, I didn't get one! Lucky I stopped by to check... Thrilled we're back!
virgcat 22 May

Magique to have you back virgcat and you’re ahead of the game already - notifications going out today.
The Ump 23 May

At current signup rates, I was loving my chance of winning a prize... C'est la vie! 😄
virgcat 23 May

Sloane Stephens loves the clay at RG
but lost a close one to Sabalenka