Before anyone feels sorry for those players who had to front up for two singles matches on a humid catch-up day at the Heineken Open yesterday, consider the thoughts of two top seeds.
Spain's Tommy Robredo, who eased pastcompatriot Alberto Martin in 1h 10min, 6-4 6-2, reckoned it wasn't much different from playing a singles and doubles match in the same day.
Third seeded Spaniard David Ferrer, who romped past Italian Daniele Bracciali 6-0 6-1, was relaxed at the prospect of facing Belgian Kristof Vliegen later yesterday in a quarter-final.
Robredo's recipe for preparing to face surprise German quarter-finalist Philipp Kohlschreiber - who tipped out former two-time champion Dominik Hrbaty 6-2 6-3 - was a bit of rest, a spot of food and a think about his next opponent.
"When you finish you just focus on getting lunch and getting ready," Robredo said.
"It's like playing singles and doubles.
"The guys who have a problem are the ones who have three tough sets, then an afternoon game."
Not him then, but on a sticky day yesterday, how much rest would he need?
"Three hours is going to be perfect.
"If you have to wait seven hours that would be tough; if it was one hour that would be tough."
Energizer bunny Ferrer reckoned a two-hour break was sufficient for him.
These players are super fit, and in one respect, all yesterday meant was the equivalent of a five-setter at the Australian Open next week, split in half.
Qualifier Juan Monaco might not have thought that after duelling just under three hours before knocking out Belgian Olivier Rochus.
Or Vliegen, who banged away for 2h 17min before eliminating rising Spanish prospect Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7-2) 2-6 7-5.
Hardly ideal preparation for their second matches against, respectively, seventh-seeded Argentine Agustin Calleri, who disposed of Frenchman Florent Serra in only 54min, and Ferrer, who did for Bracciali in 66min.
