Shanghai is the penultimate (that means “next to last”) Masters 1000 event of the year.  Due to its late position, it can be a challenge to get all the top players here.  In particular, Federer announced some weeks ago that he would be skipping Shanghai.  Djokovic announced last week that he, too, would skip Shanghai.  Both claim they have injuries they are trying to work through.  Soderling and del Potro are also missing.  Soderling is still recovering from mono and del Potro is prepping for Davis Cup which isn’t for a few months.  He must feel training is more important than playing, at this point.

Even so, Shanghai boasts world number 2, Rafael Nadal, and world number 4, Andy Murray.

The top 8 seeds got byes and aren’t expected to play until Wednesday.

Players that are currently trying to make the year-end title are Berdych, Tsonga, Fish, and Ferrer.  Almagro is playing and is in 9th position.  He should move a few rounds, but will it be enough to get him to 8th?  He needs a big performance between now and Paris.  Other players that have a chance include Simon, Tipsarevic, and del Potro.  del Potro isn’t even playing Shanghai so it will be tough for him to catch up.  Simon and Tipsarevic may not be strong enough to gain enough points.   However, Tipsarevic is in the same section as Berdych, a guy he’s had success against.  But he has to play Lopez in the opener, and that could be tough.

In Nadal’s quarter, Garcia-Lopez beat Devvarman in straight sets and is up next for Nadal.  Garcia-Lopez beat Nadal in Bangkok last year, but isn’t expected to do so in Shanghai.  Nalbandian topped Gulbis in straight sets.  Gulbis is still struggling to find his game which has been his mantra this year except the week he won Los Angeles.  Mayer had an easy win over Fognini.  Mayer will face Nalbandian in the second round.

David Ferrer’s quarter looks very Spanish.  Ferrero defeated Youzhny in two close sets.  Verdasco defeated Chinese wildcard Li dropping only 4 games.  Ferrero will play Verdasco in the second round.  Roddick needed 3 sets to get by Lu.  Dmitrov needed 3 sets to get by Ilhan.  Roddick plays Dmitrov in the second round.  Robredo needed 2 tiebreaks to get by Swiss qualified, Rohli, and plays compatriot and 7th seed, Almagro in the next round.

In Tsonga’s quarter (the bottom half of the draw), Tomic beat Kevin Anderson in 3 sets.  Up next for him is Mardy Fish.  The two just played in Tokyo where Fish beat Tomic in three sets.  Giraldo came back to win his match over Dodig in 3 sets.  He awaits the winner of Melzer-Ljubicic which is a tough opener, especially since Ljubicic just reached the semis of Beijing.  Ljubicic could be tired, but he could be on a roll too.

In Murray’s quarter, Montanes beat Kukushkin in 3 sets.  Wawrinka needed 3 sets to get past Monaco, and Young beat Chinese wildcard Gong in straight sets.  Wawrinka will play Young.  The two faced each other in the second round of the US Open which Young won in 5 sets.  Ebden, an Aussie qualifier, beat Andujar of Spain.  Up next for Ebden is the winner of Troicki-Harrison.

Andy Roddick is talking about whether a union should be formed or not.  The initial meeting was supposed to be in Shanghai.  A few years ago, Roddick complained about the long year of play at Shanghai, and then promptly got injured and couldn’t play the year-end event.  At this point, everything is preliminary.  Roddick is probably feeling out what the players want and what they are willing to do.  He has already said in interviews that if the players lack the will, the tournaments won’t do anything, which is quite realistic.