They just need people who are better at arithmetic. I figured out in my head that del Potro needed to win 6-3 after the second set to pass Mandy. Just wasn't sure if they would have gone to h2h next if he'd won 6-4 and games would have been equal.

I think they would've definitely considered the H2H next. If Murray and Del Potro were equal in regards to number of games won, then Murray would've went through to the next round based on the fact that he beat Del Potro in their Round Robin match.

Murray was so preoccupied with the rules of the system that he actually had a conversation with one of the tournament officials in the middle of his match with Verdasco. I guess they didn't help the ease his mind.

....20 minutes is a long time, even for me. At least they're owning up to their shortcomings and vow to improve. Accountability is good. Hopefully we see improvements from the ATP in other very important areas as well.

The problems with public transportation were quite terrible. I can't figure out why they started the singles matches so late.

Starting so late...

I don't think you have to be cynical to suggest it has to do with profits (from TV and video streaming). I may be wrong, perhaps it was just bad organization...

It beggars belief that the organisers did not work out that the singles matches might not finish until midnight or after if they went to three sets - leaving thousands of people stranded without public transport if they stayed to the end, and the stars of this tournament to crawl into bed at 3 a.m.

Therefore there is only one explanation for scheduling the singles matches to follow the doubles. As chlorostoma rightly points out, it's the TV channels who call the tune.

Brad Drewett claims the scheduling will be reviewed but then qualifies the statement by saying: "IF we can bring it forward, we will." Anyone want to bet on the ATP risking jeopardising revenues from TV rights next year?

*sigh* Not me Ed251137.

You and Chlorostoma hit the nail on the head.

A venue is needed that will enable the final group matches to be played simultaneously, removing the advantage the final pairings had this year of knowing what they had to do to get through.

It was not such a huge deal for fed losing the last 3 games of the match, knowing he had now already qualified - this was not fair on muzz who would have surely pulled out the stops with his umpteen unconverted break points against nando had he, like the other guys, known what he had to do.

I understood the O2 has already signed up with the WTF for five years. Cant see how they can have a second court there but the scheduling problem could be solved by taking the doubles to a different venue e.g. Wimbledon.

Alex, that's actually not a bad idea. Scheduling seems to be the ATP biggest nightmare. I think it'd be worth it for them to invest in another court seeing as they're hosting for another five years!

But to move the doubles to SW19? On grass? Actually, if it weren't for WTF being held at the end of a hard court season, I'd say that it would be fantastic for the whole of WTF to be played on grass.

Why should the Year End Championships always be held on hard court?

MINI: It's only the Centre Court that has a roof, so holding the complete WTF there would not solve the problem. The O2 is one huge arena so two courts are out of the question.

Ah, I forgot about English weather...It's a wonder we get through Wimbledon at all actually. :)

I suppose it's important to keep in mind that The O2 Arena is not a "tennis venue" but a multi-purpose entertainment complex. They hold music concerts there, basketball games, even ice-skating. That is why they haven't thought of building another court before the whole structure ever went up. I guess this means that the scheduling will always be a problem. I read that they have 584 toilets to solve the "fifty minute queue for the loo" problem. So that's a plus.

Question, did anyone get live coverage of the doubles matches on their TVs? I didn't. I only got coverage of the singles matches. It's a real shame.

Mini: One of the French pay channels gave a couple of hours delayed coverage of doubles each evening but no live matches. Speaks for itself doesnt it.

The only option would be to start earlier and have continuous play, rather than having afternoon and evening sessions. But O2 would lose the chance to charge separately if they did this and presumably the cost of seats would therefore double.