It's exactly the situation that you want the final match of the season to be for - it's a winner take all match with the winner taking the title and going to Shanghai.
That said, with Nalby and Roddick not certain to go, and Nadal and Federer injured, Simon, Blake etc could still be going anyway
I didn't think it was totally random after the first 2, amd a guy on tennis.com seems to confirm this :
"They seperate the players this way: You have 2 groups each led by the 1st and 2nd player respectively. So obviously you have Nadal (should he play) and Roger in 2 different groups. then the number 3 and 4 players are in different groups.. And they draw them randomly, so if according to the draw Novak is in Rafa's group then Murray will be in Fed's group and vice versa.. They make same procedure for the 5th and 6th player followed by the 7th and 8th player.. "
So, as things stand with Rafa out, Andy would get :
Federer or Djokovic Roddick or Tsonga Del Potro or Simon
and can't get Davydenko.
Djokovic, Roddick and Simon please, thank you
Or last year's draw with Tsonga for Roddick, as Drew gave, is fine.
The draw has been released for Shanghai. Andy has been drawn in a group with Federer, Roddick and Simon. http://wwo.masters-cup.com/1/results/groups.asp
I have changed the thread title rather than start another thread for general discussions.
I propose we have a new thread for each match but perhaps keep this thread for general topics.
Masters Cup - Shanghai Red Group : Andy v Rodger Federer Masters Cup - Shanghai Red Group : Andy v Andy Roddick Masters Cup - Shanghai Red Group : Andy v Giles Simon
I think I'll take that group, as I don't see Murray not getting through it, as I don't see a way that he can possibly lose to Simon, and Roddick will have to serve as well as he can to beat him.
Federer is a lot harder than Djokovic, but he beat him the last time they played, so he has a decent chance against him.
I'd back Murray to beat Federer in the group stages... but lose to him in the return match in the final