TENNIS in DEPTH.

It is a strange event for those British fans accustomed to the decorum of Wimbledon, Eastbourne and Edgbaston. But the difference is the delight. It is democratic – anyone who is serious about attending should be able to get a ticket – youth-oriented and great fun.

The ATP brought their season-ending championships to London with no intention to ape Britain’s venerable grand slam. They came to celebrate in a showbiz style all of their own, and the whooping, yelling fans in the vast arena seemed pleased with what they saw.

Even before Andy Murray and Juan Martín del Potro had shown up for their first-round match, the umpire, Lars Graff, had been given a booming introduction worthy of an X Factor contestant.

Then an amplified heartbeat throbbed around the grandstands as the giant video screens revealed that del Potro had left the locker-room and was making his way, by way of what appeared to be a service tunnel, to the court.

The man at the mike breathlessly recounted the young Argentine’s career achievements – essentially this year’s US Open win – while the crowd went bonkers.

So you can imagine the reaction when Murray appeared on court, rather sheepishly holding the hand of the young mascot chosen to accompany him. The crowd were yelling “C’mon Andy” during the warm-up, for goodness’ sake.

Fond but fair: a rare good shot from del Potro early in the match was warmly applauded, and silence was respectfully maintained during actual play, though the resident DJ dutifully cranked up his repertoire between games.

In fact this venue is never completely silent, and compelling rallies were accompanied by a faint but persistent residual hum, as the machinery that keeps the big tent hot, cold or in-between hummed away.

Del Potro, who looks like Mickey Rourke’s less good-looking younger brother, was pretty ordinary to begin with, his cause not aided by a nosebleed which the trainer expertly staunched.

But then perhaps someone whispered in the 21 year-old’s ear about the prize money on offer in London this week – more than $5 million (£3 million) in total – because he perked up and the crowd got the match they deserved over three energetic sets.

This is just as well, for in each session at the Tour Finals there is just one singles match and one doubles, and if the singles match turns out to be a turkey the spectators might feel justifiably aggrieved.

But the quality of the entry – the world’s best minus the crocked Andy Roddick – should guarantee plenty of competitive encounters, even in the early round-robin stages.

The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals are going to be at the O2 until at least 2013, plenty of time to establish themselves as a new and entirely welcome element in the British sporting calendar.

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