TARTAN barmy.
Fabrice Santoro toddles onto Philippe Chatrier court to interview Andy Murray clad in a kilt. A bemused World No 3, who not so long ago was wearing lederhosen to please tournament sponsors in Munich, tries to put it into context. "You look good, man," he drawls. You could say Santoro was a member of the French sporran legion.
ON the subject of clothing, there is an American player called Jack Sock. He is making good progress through this year's tournament and now faces another talented youngster in Borna Coric of Croatia. "I think I spoke to him now for the first time," said Sock. "He said 'good job' and I said 'good job'."
THANASI Kokkinnakis is asked to do a questionnaire about his pal Andy. One suspects he isn't taking it all too seriously. Asked the name of the Scot's two dogs, he replies: Binky and Kinky.
REQUESTS, requests. Rafa Nadal's plea not to be officiated by Carlos Bernardes, it appears, is the tip of the iceberg, leaving a weary Roger Federer to hanker for the days when he alone was afforded special treatment. "Everybody is requesting things when they want to play," he said. "I want to play Tuesday, I want to play Monday, I want to play Sunday." The diarist has just asked the desk to ensure that the winner of the tournament is Scottish. He has said he will see what he can do.
WHILE we are on request-gate, Nadal has a further run-in with a journalist. "If I never had one serious problem with nobody, if I was not respectful with anyone, then you come to Mallorca and you ask to me," he says. 'So I'm invited?' the journo asks. "No," is the Spaniard's response. "You are not invited, because you are always talking about problemic things."
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