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[flowerpower]

Points defences:
Rotterdam: Fed 500 Andy 0
Dubai: Fed 500 Andy 300
I/Wells:Fed 1000 Andy 10
Miami: Fed 45 Andy 600
Monte: Fed 0 Andy 180
Barca: Fed 0 Andy 90
Madrid: Fed 1000 Andy 0
Rome: Fed 360 Andy 90
French O: Fed 720 Andy 360

TOTAL TO END OF CLAY SEASON: Fed 4125 Andy 1630

[angiebabez]

Shouldn't the above poll be changed to 2013

[Fiverings]

^ It's kind of intriguing to see how he comes out when he does play. His not playing must be for a reason.  Exciting times! 

  There's definitely an air of psychological tennis about this. Like he's lifting himself above the pack in some way. Very interesting to see how it will work out. Just hope he's physically fresh, and not overtrained.

[Aileen]

that wasn't the impression I got Aileen.  Yes he wants to prepare better for clay court but I'd understood that he wanted to do better in IW than previous years and therefore wasn't rushing around playing lesser tournaments.  Like you I think it would make sense to ask for a WC for Delray beach but I think we have to have faith that Lendl knows what he's doing, if he doesn't.  Incidentally if he really was focusing only on the clay court season would he not perhaps have done a Rafa and gone down to Latin America to play?  Or at least be practising on clay now?  No I still think he has IW and Miami in his sights first

That's what he said, but then he could hardly say anything else.  It would be wonderful though if he could replicate his 2009 performances both in IW and Miami where he was beaten in the final of IW by Nadal (a doubtful participant this year according to latest reports) and then went on to defeat Djokovic in Miami, but I still maintain that match rustiness could hamper him in IW even with an 'easy' draw.  Ultimately though we have no idea what he and Lendl are cooking up between them.

I'm sure Andy will be ranked 2 at RG, even though I don't think he'll play Madrid.  I still think it poor that ATP made this a clay tourney

What makes you think he won't play Madrid given that it's obligatory and where he has no points to defend?  Last year he had his back problem so gave it a miss, which, in the circumstances might have been a good thing because I don't think he'd have been too happy with the blue clay, especially as he seems to have enough problems sliding on the red stuff.

There's definitely an air of psychological tennis about this. Like he's lifting himself above the pack in some way. Very interesting to see how it will work out. Just hope he's physically fresh, and not overtrained.

It's the over-training thing that worries me.  Other players believe in holidays, Andy doesn't.  Like Lendl he's a workaholic.

[Aileen]

POLL FOR 2013 NOW ADDED.  Votes can be amended if you change your mind as the season progresses.

[Elena]

ATP: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)
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Rankings/Rankings-FAQ.aspx

Wonder which Andy will play? Not Rotterdam, Memphis, Acapulco, Dubai, leaving:

Barcelona (22 April)
Hamburg (15 July)
Washington (29 July)
Beijing/Tokyo (30 September)
Valencia/Basel (21 October)

Monte Carlo will count for one, Barcelona and Tokyo probably. He's withdrawn from Basel 2 years running...
Still don't understand why Queen's isn't a 500 with a 64 player entry

[Elena]

I think the rule is 4x 500 events or less, so can be 2x 500 and 2x 250

That's not what the bit I quoted says!

ATP site also says "Commitment players (top 30 in 2012 year-end ranking) can count their best six (6) results from ATP World Tour 500, ATP World Tour 250 and other events (Challengers, Futures, Davis Cup, Olympics) toward their ranking. To count their best six (6), players must have fulfilled their commitment to 500 events - 4 total per year (at least 1 after the US Open)."

[The Gnome]

That's not what the bit I quoted says!

ATP site also says "Commitment players (top 30 in 2012 year-end ranking) can count their best six (6) results from ATP World Tour 500, ATP World Tour 250 and other events (Challengers, Futures, Davis Cup, Olympics) toward their ranking. To count their best six (6), players must have fulfilled their commitment to 500 events - 4 total per year (at least 1 after the US Open)."

I agree it's vague but i'll roll with it, so he needs 4x 500 events

He's confirmed for:

Barcelona & Tokyo which is 2
Monte carlo is included so that's 3

The rest is sketchy, if he decides to play davis cup after the US open i think this can qualify as a 500 event

"If a player doesn't play enough ATP 500 events and does not have an ATP 250 or Challenger appearance with a better result, the Davis Cup is counted in the 500's table"

But unsure wether you have to play for a team in the world group to qualify.

I don't think it will be Hamburg as that is clay and just after Wimbledon, Washington as it's OH hard and at the end of July so he will have had the break after Wimbledon but that would mean 3 back to back tournaments before the US open.

Basel would be the best bet but i wouldn't count on it, if you look at his schedule for 2013 there is only the 3 500 events he has so far signed on for including Monte Carlo so my guess is that he just decided to dump Dubai and get a big fat 0 points as a penalty.