No. 1 – Rafael Nadal
No. 2 – Novak Djokovic
Nos. 3-4 – Stanislas Wawrinka and Roger Federer have the inside track, but David Ferrer would be no worse than No. 4 if he wins the Rome title. Ferrer would climb to No. 3 if he takes the title and Wawrinka loses in the second round. Tomas Berdych would overtake Federer if the Czech prevails in Rome and the Swiss loses prior to the quarters.
Nos. 5-8 – Ferrer, Berdych, and Andy Murray are safe. With Juan Martin Del Potro out due to his wrist injury, Milos Raonic is one spot away from a top eight seed. Currently in the Rome third round, Raonic would have to reach the semifinals to surpass Kei Nishikori for eighth.
Nos. 9-16 – Raonic, John Isner, Richard Gasquet (if he plays), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Grigor Dimitrov, Fabio Fognini, and Mikhail Youzhny are almost certainly safe. The race for the 16th seed, though, is a fierce one. Tommy Robredo is currently in the spot, but he left himself vulnerable by losing to Philipp Kohlschreiber on Tuesday. Tommy Haas would pass Robredo if the German beats Igor Sijsling in the second round. Ernests Gulbis would jump Robredo and Haas if the Latvian wins his next match against Stephane Robert and also fares better than Haas in the tournament. Kevin Anderson would have to make a run to the Rome semis from Federer’s section of the bracket.
Nos. 17-24 – After Haas, Gulbis, and Anderson, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Nicolas Almagro, Gael Monfils, and Jerzy Janowicz are in good shape. Fernando Verdasco, the No. 24 seed as it stands now, is hanging on for dear life. Marin Cilic will surpass Verdasco if he defeats Jurgen Melzer in the Rome second round. Philipp Kohlschreiber would have to reach the semis this week in order to have a shot at top 24, but he has to face Djokovic on Thursday. Gilles Simon would have to do the same, which may be even less likely given that his Wednesday opponent is Nadal.
Nos. 25-32 – Cilic, Kohlschreiber, Simon, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Vasek Pospisil should be good to go. Andreas Seppi (a first-round loser to Haas) and Dmitry Tursunov (still in the tournament) are in some danger. Marcel Granollers and Ivan Dodig are still alive in the Rome second round and have the best chances of stealing a seed. Granollers would have to beat Andy Murray and then either Cilic or Melzer to reach the quarters. Dodig would have to beat Lukas Rosol and then Federer to make the last eight. Longshots Ivo Karlovic and Jeremy Chardy would have to reach the Rome semifinals in order to put themselves in seed contention. Santiago Giraldo, meanwhile, is currently in line for a seed if Gasquet withdraws.
Too many variables to cope with. Cant get my head around the what-ifs.
I thought that Gasquet already pulled out of the French Open. I guess not.
The variables are fascinating, but Rafa is assured of the #1 spot! That’s the best news. Let the others fight it out for a good seed.
What I want to know is, did Ricky figure this all out himself? 😎
Basically, it makes no difference whether a player is seeded 3 or 4, the odds in the draw are the same as they are when seeded 5-8. Raonic and Kei are the only ones jostling for a position that would really make a difference as to when they meet the top players.
Damn. Where’s holdserve when you need her?
#YouCannotBeSerious
#NoleFedHowManyTIMES???
Well Roger just lost so he won’t defend his finalist points from last year…does Ferru have a chance to move up to 4 and get the No. 4 seed? Seems like a stretch. Not that it really matters since the way Roger is playing, I don’t think he’ll be a threat at RG.
According to what Ricky wrote, I believe that Ferrer would have to win in Rome to get the #4 seed. He also said that Berdy could get the #4 seed if he wins in Rome and Fed loses before the quarterfinals. But I don’t see Berdy winning. I also don’t see Ferrer winning.
It appears that Fed will hold on to the #4 seed, but he can’t feel good going into Rome with just reaching the final in MC, missing Madrid and then getting knocked out in his first match in Rome.
It wasn’t so much he got knocked out as who it was who knocked him out. Missing out on picking up a decent number of points must’ve annoyed him too.
Yes, agree on getting knocked out by the likes of Chardy and losing out on points when he was defending finalist points from last year. Not a great way to get ready for RG.
bumped to main page
J-Stan in Nole’s half.
Berdych in Fed’s quarter is a guaranteed LOCK. I’ll even wager RITB;s iPad.
Fed, Muzza, Ferru, Isner, Gulbis, Dolgo, Nishi in Rafa’s half. Throw in two nondescript hard servers for his 1st two rounds for good measure, no? Acronyms PCB and RBA also. Perhaps Thiem also. Oh, and Andujar too.
Zero threats in Fed’s quarter. Zero threats in Nole’s
I think Murray will be in Wawa’s quarter and Nole will draw Raonic.
Alternate: switch Raonic with Murray possibly.
#AheadOfSchedule
#YoureWelcome
#Humb1e
Proof positive, God is Serbian:
https://twitter.com/darren_cahill/status/469146281915723776/photo/1
Isn’t it the same God that let flooding happen in Serbia ?!
That’s uncalled for, Gussie. People’s lives were lost in that disaster.