Masters Cup Race

x.doublea · Masters Cup Race

We know that Federer and Nadal have already qualified, but Roddick and Ljubicic have officially joined them:

http://www.masters-cup.com/1/news/stories/race_update9.asp

PSALT

good for Roddick, I just hope he will be ready. hopefully his ankle doesn't keep him out of Paris

J-man

His ankle will be in question but I think he will be fine. Ljubicic will be a major threat come YEC

x.doublea

Yes, but he won't win, because all he says is "Federer's the best". He lost before it even started.

J-man

But Federer does have a 12-1 reocord against Roddick. If that is't enough to put doubt in your mind. Also Federer beat Roddick when Roddick was playing some of his best tennis in awhile at the US Open

x.doublea

Sorry, I was talking about Ljubicic. Embarassed

Roddick would never admit defeat that obviously.

J-man

My bad. It's kind of what everyone saying nowadays, "Federer's the best". So I got confused.

stevos14

Looks like an exciting enough race for the last couple spots, and Im hoping less pull-outs than last year Embarassed

Tennis fan

Baghdatis was injured after his win in China and was sidelined for a couple of weeks.
He then rushed to come back and lost in the first round in 3 consecutive events. He probably came back too soon trying to get into the Masters Cup. Crying or Very sad

x.doublea

Yes... now he's probably not going to get in at all.

Tennis fan

Obviously!

Bottom line is that the year-end cup makes this part of the season interesting. Otherwise, a lot of the players would be skipping several lower tiered events and it would be just boooooring.

dav6789

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Ivan Ljubicic and Andy Roddick have all qualified.

From there, the race looks like this:

5. Nikolay Davydenko- 445
6. David Nalbandian- 439
7. James Blake- 411
8. Tommy Robredo- 410
9. Fernando Gonzalez- 402 (will jump to 7 with win in Basel final)
10. Marcos Baghdatis- 372 (will not qualify as he isn't playing Paris)
11. Mario Ancic- 372 (plays in St.Petersburg final)

In the doubles race, 6 of 8 teams have qualified. They are the Bryans, Bjorkman/Mirnyi, Hanley/Ullyett, Knowles/Nestor, Damm/Paes and Santoro/Zimonjic.

Fromt there, the race is:

7. Erlich/Ram- 490
8. Fyrstenberg/Matkowski- 405 (will play in Basel final)
9. Aspelin/Perry- 381 (will play St.Petersburg final)
10. Dlouhy/Vizner- 368

x.doublea

In the singles, I don't see anyone overtaking Davydenko, but the other spots are extremely tight. Robredo's going to slip right off the Top 8, and I don't hink he can climb back.

In the doubles, surely Erlich/Ram will remain in seventh spot, but the Number 8 spot is really up for grabs, although I see F and M holding on.

Tennis fan

Here is my prediction:

5. Nikolay Davydenko
6. David Nalbandian
7. Fernando Gonzalez
8. James Blake

Unfortunatley Baghdatis has aggravated his injury by coming back too soon in order to qualify for the cup, so he withdrew from Paris.
... and this is too painful for him and his friends as he lives and trains in Paris. Sad

x.doublea

As you all know, Davydenko has already claimed a spot, but Robredo has cliamed the seventh slot.

http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/newsandscores/news/news4.asp

x.doublea

Nalbandian has also qualified. The eigth spot is up for grabs... Mainly between Ancic and Blake.

Tennis fan

Is in the hands of Ancic. Blake may make it in if anyone withdraws because of injury ( very likely) ...

dav6789

Tommy Haas can still make it. He would need to win Paris (which isn't impossible). Ancic has lost which means he won't qualify this year.

x.doublea

I would like it if Haas made it, but I don't think he'll get through Safin. Safin lives and breathes this tournaments....

dav6789

I don't like the ATP race. It is unfair for some players. Blake has had a much better year than Haas. Haas should not have the chance to qualify. I don't like the best of 5 other tournament rule because many players have won more points from other tournaments and shouldn't lose points just because they lost in the first round of a Masters event. The system is silly IMO.

leftys_rock

Blake sneaks in at #8 when Haas withdrew during his match with Hrbaty.

x.doublea

Congratulations to Blake for claiming the last spot. He's come a long way... let's see whether he can do well at the Masters Cup.

J-man

Roddick, Blake and the Bryans in Shanghai. It's going to intresting.