Nah, it's just the BBC. Even Eurosport and ITV do a somewhat reasonable job of covering the big events. A little part of me dies inside when I hear Castle mouthbreathing whilst Murray makes more history.

On a happier note, looks like Sky have the rights to the O2 footage even for the matches they're not covering, so they're still able to put out highlight clips. 12 minutes of Wednesday's match, thank god. Puts BBC to shame.

Think of your blood pressure, sweetie.  Nae worth it.

My blood pressure's fine love. Just needed to get that out.

The 'highlights' (if we can really call it that) of today's match was 4 Wawrinka winners, 1 Murray winner and match point. Who actually won this match?

I don't even know what to say about the dreary background music. How hard is it to put together a compilation of some of the better points, the break points, set points and match point with just the base commentary? Why do they persist in trying to **** around with amateurish compilations? It's very evident the people who put these together have their heads up their arse.

On another note can I just add how ******* sick of BBC's tennis coverage I am. They've persisted with the biggest clown in punditry for years to commentate and consistently ruin the biggest tournament in the world with his daft comments and general idiocy, and their highlights packages are pathetic. The 'highlights' of the Wimbledon final was an insult. BBC generally are superior in every way but in tennis I can't wait until they finally let go of the reigns and let Sky take over, who have delivered far superior coverage for years.

Sky consistently produce 6-7 minute clips of all the best moments of every Murray match on Sky. With BBC we get this arbitrary 'five best shots', probably chosen by some intern who barely understands how tennis works. And then they hoard the coverage and shoot down anyone who tries to put a compilation together. They never show replays of the match or do highlights programmes. So if you miss the match, you're **** out of luck.

Anyway, end rant.

Due to the typical shitty scheduling (sure let's put 2/3 of the British #1s matches on during the day when everyone's at work) I didn't see any of the match today, but what a result. I was pretty nervous about today, but in the end he didn't do just enough to scrape through the group, but topped it in emphatic fashion. Gutted I missed it.

So now that Stan has won his match in straight sets, can somebody explain (probably once again) how this affects Andy?

As per the ATP thread.

Assuming Nishikori beats Cilic:

Wawrinka wins in straights - Nishikori 1st, Wawrinka 2nd
Wawrinka wins in 3 - Nishikori/Murray through (top of group depends on if Cilic takes a set or not)
Murray wins - Murray 1st, Nishikori 2nd

Nishikori should have few issues beating Cilic in this form, so now Wawrinka/Murray really is a straight set shoot out.

Wawrinka wins in straights - Nishikori 1st, Wawrinka 2nd
Wawrinka wins in 3 - Nishikori/Murray through (top of group depends on if Cilic takes a set or not)
Murray wins - Murray 1st, Nishikori 2nd

That's the same as what I wrote above, just in different words, so yes, you're correct!

Yes but, have you considered that if Cilic loses both his matches and Murray fails to win a set on Friday then Wawrinka and Nishikori go through?

If Wawrinka wins tonight, beats Murray in straights and Nishikori beats Cilic, then Murray is out.

I'm sure Yamor can confirm or correct me, but I think that is the only circumstance he fails to get through?

That's not what sky said. If Stan wins, the beats Andy and cilic wins then beats Nishikori it's going to come down to games/sets between 3 players

They can't both happen.

If Cilic wins, then only one player (winner of Nishikori or Cilic) can get to 2 wins and thus Murray would be through.

If Wawrinka wins, then it could come down to a games/sets between Wawrinka, Murray and Nishikori if Wawrinka and Nishikori win the final games. However Murray is in a strong position (and Wawrinka a poor one) right now, although that could all change if Wawrinka wins, says, 0&1 tonight.

Even if he all three of the remaining results go against him (Wawrinka bt Cilic, Nishikori bt Cilic, Wawrinka bt Murray) - he's in a great position due to how routine his opening win was and Wawrinka's opening loss was. Wawrinka needs to beat both Cilic and Murray in two dominant sets for Murray to not go through.

But as we've seen before in this tournament, anything is possible. He needs to beat Wawrinka in the final match and top the group with 100% record.

Longest 3-set match in WTF history.

That's a huge win. May not be the greatest quality, by all accounts (I saw very little of it so may be wrong) but a great battling win. I think Nishikori is the hardest player to beat aside from the top two due to his sheer consistency and battling tendencies. Something very Ferrer-esque about him.

God, what a hold. Phew again!

Re Novak: Hey, he had a three-set match too...

In about half the time.

It's not the amount of sets or even games played that's the issue, it's the time spent on court and the intensity of the match. These sort of matches are absolute killers. Mentally and physically draining.

The draw still pisses me off.

Nishikori's turned in a mega player on big points this year. Best out of anyone outside the top two. He bettered Andy in the big moments in New York and it looks like he'd been doing it again today, until the last couple of games.

Andy's level so far this tournament has been... pretty disappointing. He really needs to find his rhythm or I fear for his chance of getting out of the group, let alone making the final/winning the thing.

Nishikori the guy whose biggest achievement is reaching a Slam final.  Zero Masters titles. You are having a giraffe.

Stan  is consistently awful outside the Slams but with 3 Slams to his name he cannot be ignored. Even though you want to.

No the Big 4 remain the Big 4. Rafa and Fed are out injured and even though everyone repeatedly writes them off its too soon to say they are finished.

Yes, you seem to have completely and utterly failed to grasp what I just said. Quite spectacularly done, really.