After reaching his first Grand Slam final, Novak Djokovic has been confirmed as the latest qualifier for Shanghai where he joins the majestic Roger Federer and his great rival, Rafael Nadal. In fact, despite lying third in the ATP race behind Nadal, the Serb is arguably Federer’s most dangerous opponent due to his excellent hard-court pedigree and the Spaniard’s current injury concerns.

Below the ‘big three’ lie Nikolay Davydenko and Andy Roddick who are everything but guaranteed to qualify, assuming a drastic upset in form or injury does not occur. Davydenko’s crammed tournament schedule certainly seems to be working for him, as demonstrated at Flushing Meadows, where he played some great tennis, reaching the semi-finals.

Roddick will probably be more disappointed with his year as he fights to stay in the top five and regain his confidence. However, like Davydenko, he has more than enough quality to reach the Masters Cup with ease. Surprisingly, Davydenko and Roddick have only won two titles between them in 2007.

'Recent wins over Roddick and Nadal are a strong indicator that Ferrer could well be spotted on a Shanghai-bound plane in the near future'


Unfortunately for Roddick, the man in 6th place is breathing rather heavily down his neck. That man is David Ferrer, a player in the form of his life. Ferrer has been extremely consistent this year with two titles, a US Open semi-final and four Masters Series quarter-finals. Known for his clay-court prowess, Ferrer has also been excellent on the hard-court circuit, a key improvement on last year. Recent wins over Roddick and Nadal are a strong indicator that Ferrer could well be spotted on a Shanghai-bound plane in the near future.

After Ferrer, the fight for places becomes incredibly congested. James Blake, Tommy Haas and Carlos Moya sit in 7th, 8th and 9th respectively, with just six precious points separating them. If Blake is to qualify he needs to put his US Open heartache behind him and perform to the level that he was at a year ago. For Haas and Moya, it is crucial that they build on their US Open results. Moya’s resurgence in form has been exceptional and it would be unwise to bet against the experienced Majorcan.

Ivan Ljubcic’s poor Grand Slam form may well end up costing him a place, however he is known to excel indoors and so the next few months are crucial for him. Along with the three players above him, his fight for the final couple of spots will most likely be determined by the remaining Master Series events in Madrid and Paris.

Although not mathematically impossible, the chance of anyone outside of the top 10 qualifying appears to be slim. Fernando Gonzlalez’s form appears to be missing, presumed dead, and Tommy Robredo will need to resuscitate his results on a surface that he has so far disappointed on this year.

Meanwhile Tomas Berdych, Mikhail Youzhny, Juan Ignacio Chela and Richard Gasquet have all failed to pick up sufficient points this Autumn, (excluding Chela’s US Open achievements). These guys will need a small miracle if they are to qualify.

Other players who will be disappointed not to be making the Shanghai showpiece include Marcos Baghdathis and David Nalbandian, their form no doubt residing at the same location as Gonzalez’s. Lleyton Hewitt and Juan Carlos Ferrero have only shown flashes of their best form and Andy Murray will be frustrated due to the injury that disrupted his terrific early season form. On a positive note, Juan Monaco’s rise has been impressive, with 2007’s elite event coming just too soon.

Ultimately, the race for the Masters Cup will come down to the wire in Paris, with many twists and turns along the way. Here’s a prediction of who will be successful in snatching the remaining slots.

1. Roger Federer
2. Rafael Nadal
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Nikolay Davydenko
5. Andy Roddick
6. David Ferrer
7. James Blake
8. Carlos Moya

Can you see any surprise changes to the author's top eight? Post your comments below or submit an article to Sportingo.