If Nalbandian doesnt win, I think I'm right in saying he finishes year in in top 10.  What is curious though is will he be able to be among top 8 seeds com Aussie Open.

Yeah your right, just looked at atp schedule 2008, not impressive before AO

So its all down to Nadal to keep Murray in the top 10!!!  

Looks like he'll end up 11th. Nalbandians a set and a break up...

So, Andy stays were he started the week in the Race: p11; but moves up to p11 from p12 last week in the rankings, which is a good place to be to pounce at the beginning of the year with the Doha final up for defence in the first week. Unfortunately it is unlikely he'll be able to go to p8 or above for the AO (too few weeks, too many points to defend)  - this would have meant avoiding Mr Federer, Djoko et co. for a round longer but hey.

Imrpove on a final place? Ok so he wins the tournament.... can't do much else if he plays at Kooyong. Could improve on the AUS open result. His provisional schedule is now up Here

That covers every week he was planning to play last year There are actually MORE tournaments he could play if he wanted.
Bear in mind, it only LOOKS bigger, because i added in A) Shanghai and B) ALL the DC tournies and C) The Dubai tourney

So technically, it's only one more than last year, although i fully expect him to withdraw from tournaments (or not enter in the first place) after/before long trips, deep runs in big tournaments, or davis cup weekends

Calm down people, Andy's in pretty good shape for the November-January period.

Assuming he's going to Doha to defend his final only Davydenko from last years entry list is ranked higher, with only one more top 10 player should turn at the most, so Andy'll be seeded 2-3 and I'm confident he'll go one better and win the title this year.

Players losing points in November: Canas (95)
*Shanghai contestants all gain at least 100 points.

Players defending points  in the first week of 2008: Ljubicic (Doha W, 175), Djokovic (Adelaide W, 155), Murray (Doha F, 150), Daydenko (Doha SF, 85), Canas (Challenger W, 65), Moya (Chennai SF, 35), Nadal (Chennai SF, 20)

Australian Open seedings done. So, if Murray wins Doha and no other rankings change he'll be seeded 9th, if he defends the final 11th, if he loses in the semis 13th, and before the semis 14th.

Players defending points in second week of 2008: Ferrer (Auckland W, 135), Blake (Sydney W, 100), Moya (Sydney F, 95), Robredo (Auckland F, 60), Gasquet (Sydney SF, 35)

Australian Open Points: Federer (1000), Gonzalez (700), Roddick (450), Haas (450), Robredo (250), Davydenko (250), Nadal (250), Murray (150), Blake (150), Djokovic (150), Ferrer (150), Nalbandian (150), Berdych (150), Youzhny (75), Chela (75), Canas (65), Baghdatis (35), Ljubicic (5), Moya (5)

Most importantly, seeds 9-12 will face seeds 5-8 in the 4th round and avoid the top 4 seeds so it doesn't really matter whether he can mathematically reach the top 8 before the Aussie Open anyway.

Total points to defend in January:
1) Federer 1000
2) Gonzalez 700
3) Roddick 450
4) Haas 450
5) Davydenko 435
6) Robredo 310
7) Djokovic 305
8) Murray 300
9) Ferrer 285
10) Nadal 270
11) Blake 250
12) Canas 225
13) Gasquet 185
14) Ljubicic 180
15 Berdych 150
16 Nalbandian 150
17 Moya 135
18 Youzhny 75
19 Chela 75
20 Baghdatis 35

Post-AO predictions are obviously tricky to say the least. But Murray should defend his points at the very least. Gonzalez and Haas will need a miracle to defend theirs while Robredo could struggle without a top 8 seeding to reach the quarters again.

With a bit of luck Murray SHOULD have cracked the top 10 by February.