The picture is getting a little clearer, now that the US Open is over, but there are still a number of players in the running for those eight spots. I thought Mr. Nalbandian would be almost a shoe-in at one point, but he's dropped to No. 7 and is definitely "on the bubble" now. And Roddick, who was on the outside looking in not long ago, has moved up to No. 3.

Current Standings:

1. Federer
2. Nadal
3. Roddick
4. Davydenko
5. Ljubicic
6. Robredo
7. Nalbandian
8. Blake
9. Baghdatis
10. Ancic
10. Haas
12. Ferrer

OK. I'll go out on a limb and say that today's Top 8 will be the qualifiers for Shanghai. Ljubicic and Nalbandian aren't on the best form, but I think they'll hang onto their spots. The rest are all in pretty good form and should pick up enough points the rest of the year to maintain their spots, as well. Most likely to spoil my prediction would be Baghdatis or Haas with a strong showing in Madrid and/or Paris.

I think Baghdatis will spoil it; he would be in there now if not for an appalling clay season, in fact that entire part of the year. I think he might sneak in.

I hope Nalbandian just crashes out as he is rubbish at the moment and will probably go out in the first round.

But Nalby is the defending champion. Has the defending champ ever failed to qualify the next year? (Probably has happened at some point, since only eight players qualify.)

Yep. Just on a quick check, it happened just three years ago, when Hewitt failed to qualify in '03.

It could happen again this year; I just don't see him putting up a very good defence if he does make it though... :unsure:

Hmm. Interesting results so far. Most people so far seem to think Baghdatis will move up into the Top 8 and Robredo seem to be the choice of most likely to drop out.

I hope Baghi sneaks in, he deserves it more than Nalby.

Has anyone voted for Murray? :P

Nalby, Blake and Baghs, Baghs really won me over in his match with Andre in NY, awesome player, and could cause some trouble in Shanghai too, certainly moreso than Davy and Robredo :rolleyes:

Baggy certainly does seem to thrive in a big-match situation. The problem is he's a little like Nalby in that he doesn't seem to be motivated enough in the smaller tournaments. Apart from the slams, the farthest he's got in any tournament this year is the semis at s'Hertogenbosch and he really should be doing better. I just don't know if he'll be able to get enough good results for the rest of the year to qualify for the Masters.

I reckon that Baghdatis will get in - probably with Nalbandian dropping out...

or...the same thing will happen as last year, and half the top 8 will withdraw with injuries!! In which case, i reckon murray might just do it roflmao

Im gald everyone think Baggy will knock Nalby out :devil: :P

After the year he's had I think Baggy really deserves it.

Not sure about Nalby - he's really out of form. Might be better he fails to qualify then get dumped out in the RR as defending champion...

It all depends on the final few tournaments really... I think that looking at who is up there already, Baghdatis should make it with Roddick coming back into the frame from lower in the rankings but Nalbandian I say will still just mak it despite awful year for him...

Methinks that Davydenko is such an underrated player.
People say that he plays loads of tournaments and has nothing special, but I think that he plays like a robot(not for the choking part though :o ).
His serve returns are arguablly one of the bests on tour too.

Well, Baghdatis has moved into the No. 8 spot, following his recent title. Blake is now edged out of a spot. Of course, how they all do in the remaining Masters tourneys will be the major factor.

Is there any chance Ljubicic could drop out or has he too many points? H eisnt; doing much recently is he.

Why are so few people voting for Ancic? The indoor tournaments should favor him greatly compared to some of the others.

Well, he was still out with injury when this poll was started, so that may have something to do with it. He seems to have come back strong, though.

I woudl have done, but I thought that he was too far down inpoints ot make it. :shrug: Hope he does it though.

I don't know realisitcally if Ancic can make it now :shrug:

Perhaps if he wins a masters series :unsure:

I heard Baggy is injured ? How serious is it ? This might hurt his chances of making it to the top 8.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo! :cry:

I think Ancic and below are all but eliminated now. If Baghdatis can manage a win in Lyon, though, he'll be right up in the mix.

I really wanted Marcos in the mix, but if this injury is quite bad he should just concentrate on the remaining tournaments without the pressure of trying to make the masters, or just get fit for next year.

Its funny isnt it when you compare race list against ranking list . Thay are almost identical at the end of the year. Well its not funny really. Why not just have race points and thats that.