How Rublev’s Live Race outlook shifts after Ruud’s Shanghai upset

Can Andrey Rublev qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the fifth consecutive year?

The 26-year-old is well positioned to do so and after Casper Ruud was upset Friday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Rublev has a chance this fortnight to improve upon his current seventh position in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. Ruud leads Rublev by just 225 points.

Should Rublev reach his fourth ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final of the season, he would be within striking distance of passing sixth-placed Ruud. But Rublev will need a semi-final run in Shanghai to leapfrog the Norwegian.

[ATP APP]

PIF ATP Live Race To Turin (as of 4 October)

Player	Points
1) Jannik Sinner*	9,340
2) Carlos Alcaraz*	6,520
3) Alexander Zverev*	6,125
4) Daniil Medvedev	4,670
5) Taylor Fritz	3,900
6) Casper Ruud	3,805
7) Andrey Rublev	3,580
8) Alex de Minaur	3,305

*Sinner, Alcaraz and Zverev have secured qualification.

Daniil Medvedev is aiming to become the next player to secure qualification for the season finale. The 28-year-old is fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin while the three players ahead of him have already qualified: Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev.

US Open finalist Taylor Fritz is well placed to earn his spot at the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. The American, sixth in the Race, played the event in 2022 as an alternate.

Alex de Minaur is not competing in Shanghai, providing a path for Novak Djokovic to slide up to eighth should the Serbian win his opening match at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

Grigor Dimitrov is enjoying a resurgent year that has placed him 10th in the Race. The Bulgarian won the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals with a 5-0 record, but has not been back to the eight-player event since. To start 2024, Dimitrov won his first title (Brisbane) since that Nitto ATP Finals stunner. He also reached the Miami final.

American Tommy Paul has an opportunity to qualify for Turin for the first time. The 11th-placed Paul has earned two titles this season (Dallas, Queen's Club).

With only two ATP Masters 1000 tournaments remaining this year, Stefanos Tsitsipas will look to make ground starting in Shanghai, where he beat former No. 4 Kei Nishikori on Friday. The Greek, 12th in the Race, is seeking to qualify for Turin for the sixth consecutive year.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]