Shanghai
Singles – First Round: T Haas def. (9) N Almagro 4-6 7-6(7-4) 6-2
No surprise given the surface, but it costs Nicolas Almagro any chance at the Top Ten — we show him falling from #11 to no better than #12, and several other players within striking distance of him. One more win might put Tommy Haas back in the Top Twenty, although we’d guess he’ll need two.
Singles – First Round: (10) M Cilic def. (Q) L Kubot 7-5 6-3
Marin Cilic lost his opener last year, so it’s just possible this will put him back in the Top Fifteen. We’d guess he’ll need more, though.
Singles – First Round: (11) R Gasquet def. (Q) B Baker 6-2 6-3
Richard Gasquet didn’t play last year, so these are all free points for him. One more win would take him past Almagro, which might let him earn the #12 ranking.
Singles – First Round: A Dolgopolov def. J Chardy 6-3 6-2
Jeremy Chardy is at #30 in safe points, but we would guess he will end up a spot or two below that. The win gives Alexandr Dolgopolov — who is defending quarterfinalist points — at least a hope of staying Top Twenty.
Singles – First Round: K Anderson def. J Nieminen 6-2 7-6(7-4)
Jarkko Nieminen loses a few points and will probably fall between one and three places.
Singles – First Round: B Paire def. (Q) P Petzschner 7-6(7-2) 6-4
Benoit Paire has a good shot at the Top Fifty after this.
Singles – First Round: S Querrey def. (WC) Z Li 6-3 6-1
This by itself doesn’t move Sam Querrey in the rankings, but he is only about a hundred points from the Top Twenty….
Singles – First Round: A Seppi def. (Q) M Berrer 6-2 7-6(7-5)
Andreas Seppi defends his points; one more win would just about clinch his Top 25 ranking.
Singles – First Round: T Robredo def. (Q) A Bogomolov Jr. 7-6(7-4) 6-4
It’s probably too late for Tommy Robredo to make it back into the Top Hundred this year, but maybe there is hope for next year. And another win might well earn him direct entry into the Australian Open.
Singles – First Round: G Dimitrov def. P Andujar 7-5 6-3
Pablo Andujar lost his opener last year also, so he won’t fall much below his current #40 — but he won’t gain, either.
Doubles – First Round: Butorac/Petzschner def. Bellucci/Tomic 6-1 6-0
Doubles – First Round:Huey/Marray def. (WC) Gong/Zhang 7-5 4-6 10-6 (Match TB)