The subject of who might get into AO qualifying has been brought up on three different threads so far, so I think it makes sense to create a dedicated thread for it so that posts on the subject can more easily be found.
First a recap, with some of the numbers updated ...
As far as I can tell, the qualifying cuts for the last four years have been (2004 first) 434, 380, 295 & 311 (from an initial cut of about 280 when the entry list came out), but in the years when it droppped down really low, Aussies tend to have been the last few to get in, implying that they only get in with rankings that low because lots of players above them didn't make the trip.
So, I would say a ranking of 280 is safely in, 290 very likely, low 300s possible and the ranking points needed for those levels at the moment are 130, 123 & 120 (or 119 from very few tournaments, but that won't apply to any of those in contention)
If you look at the GB top 25 table at http://www.britishtennis.net/gbtop25m/current.htm?n=1, there's a YTD section towards the right-hand side which shows how many ranking points each player has amassed since the start of 2008, so it's more or less their current ranking points less any points to defend between now and the end of the year. (N.B. where a player has scored points at more than 18 events this year, it will be a slight overestimate - that may affect Wardy, Slabba or Josh to the tune of a point or two, but doesn't do so yet)
The YTD totals for GB 2-9 up to the end of Thursday 6 November are:
224 Boggo - safely in AO Q 183 Josh - safely in AO Q ------------------------------
119 Wardy 118 Bloomers
93 Slabba
77 Eaton
69 Baker
60 Marray
This isn't the same as the current ranking order, e.g. because Slabba's mass of points in December 2007 are keeping him above Bloomers at the moment.
You can just use the YTD column on the top 25 table to check how this develops - N.B. the YTD figure includes points from the tournament in progress, even if they are Futures points that won't go on for over a week.
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So, one more win this week would make Wardy safe, two more wins (either this week or one this week plus one in Jersey) would make Bloomers very likely and it's quite hard to see any of the others making it.
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
I make Ward on 121 points minimum at year end as he has already secured 5 points this week and has three to drop off. It might be 2x3 actually so perhaps minimum 120.
If he spends the off season with a certain Mr Nadal again and builds on the progress he's made this year (lets not forget the guy is still only 21) then he could be a real hit in Australia........
I'll bump this thread to answer JL's question on the top 25 thread.
Having said "I would say a ranking of 280 is safely in, 290 very likely, low 300s possible", Boggo and Josh will be direct acceptances into AO qualifying when the list first comes out and Wardy will be on the borderline, but should now be virtually certain to make it after w/ds. Bloomers has an outside chance too, if he has bothered to enter.
Even Slabba might have a very outside chance of making the cut after w/ds (Again, if he has bothered to enter) because what I missed when i compiled the table in the first post is that although he will be ranked down in around 350th place at the end of this year, only 8 of his 32 remaining 2008 PTDs will have come off by 22 Dec, which is the ranking date on which the AO Q entry list will be based. 120 points, the number he will have at that stage, is currently enough for 297th place.
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!