Let's hope he actually gets to play in Madrid this year. I have already reserved my tickets ! Three times in the last two years I have bought tickets hoping to see Andy play and each time, has has either been knocked out early (Valencia 2011 and Barcelona 2012) or withdrawn injured (Madrid 2012).

Here's hoping that I am not the jinx.

Surely he has a commitment to play 4 500s, one of them after the USO?

He doesn't have to count them if he has higher scores in 250s, but that is unlikely.

-- Edited by Madeline on Sunday 6th of January 2013 12:27:08 AM

He doesn't have to play any 500s at all if he doesn't want to.

wolf wrote:

---

All that happens if he doesn't play them is he gets 0-pointer for each one he doesn't play. As he obviously he wouldn't get any points for not playing the events anyway, that's not a punishment.

---

 I am pretty sure that he will also get fined if he doesn't play them (unless he has genuine injury issues).

Here's the relevant section in the ATP rankings FAQ:

A. Top 30 players (based on 2012 year-end Emirates ATP Rankings) must play a minimum of four 500 level tournaments during the calendar year, including at least one event following the US Open (Monte Carlo Masters 1000 event will count towards the minimum of four and all penalties apply):
-- A 0-pointer for each event less than four played.
-- A 0-pointer for withdrawing from any 500 tournament after the acceptance list is out.
-- A 0-pointer for not playing at least one event after the US Open.
-- A 0-pointer can be appealed by a player to the same tribunal formed to hear 1000 suspension appeals.
-- No suspensions or fines (including no withdrawal and late withdrawal fines).

-- Edited by wolf on Sunday 6th of January 2013 01:01:35 PM

Josh wrote:

---

Surely he wouldn't get fined if he never even bothered to enter in the first place?

---

 As a member of the top 30 at the year end, Andy is a commitment player - I'm pretty sure he would be fined, whether he entered or not. And certainly as I just posted, he would get a penalty zero that would stay on his ranking for 52 weeks. One or two might not matter (it doesn't for Fed for example, he choses to take the penalty for one or two of them) but all four would be a bit drastic.

Monte Carlo still counts as a 500 doesn't it? And Andy seems to like going there so I'd iimagine it'll be on his schedule this year.
He also likes the Far East swing so Tokyo could well be repeated.
That leaves 2 to do.

Since he's going to the States for February perhaps he'll take a WC into Acapulco and give Rafa a game.


FWIW I think he's better off spending Feb training in the USA with Ivan. And he could choose to play Memphis.
Delray Beach has been mentioned by Andy as a possibility too since it's up the road from his training camp.