With the ATP World Tour Finals happening in just over a month’s time, a valuable 1000 ATP points are up for grabs for the winner of this week’s Shanghai Masters. Many players competing in this event are fighting for the last three remaining spots in the top eight of the ATP rankings in order to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals, the last tournament of the season.
So far Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro have all gained enough ATP points to qualify, but there are now only three places remaining.
If the current rankings stand, the three remaining spots will be filled by Andy Roddick, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Nikolay Davydenko, who are playing in this week’s Shanghai Masters hoping to secure their places.
However, also participating in the Shanghai Masters and still in with a chance of making the top eight are Fernando Verdasco, Gilles Simon, Robin Soderling and Fernando Gonzalez.
It seems the final line-up for the ATP World Tour Finals still hangs in the balance if the results so far in the Shanghai Masters are anything to go by.
Fernando Verdasco lost to Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 7-6 (6) in the Shanghai Masters second round whilst Andy Roddick failed to make the third round after retiring with a left knee injury playing against Stanislas Wawrinka.
This could prove to be a huge disappointment for Fernando Verdasco as most players surrounding him in the rankings are through to the Shanghai Masters third round.
World number eight Nikolay Davydenko faces the number twelve Fernando Gonzalez in the third round, the world number ten Gilles Simon faces Tomas Berdych whilst the world number seven Jo-Wilfried Tsonga takes on the world number eleven Robin Soderling.
However, out of the running for Shanghai Masters victory is Juan Martin Del Potro after retiring in the second round with a right wrist injury against Jurgen Melzer. This could present a real opportunity to get some points on the board for those who really need it.
To do this, players will still have to contend with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, who beat Fabio Fognini and James Blake respectively to advance to the Shanghai Masters third round.
You can catch all the action from the ATP World Tour Finals live from the London O2 Arena from November 22.
Hundreds of ATP World Tour Finals tickets are still available to compare and buy now at Tixdaq.com from £21 for every day of the week-long tournament.
