Perspiration comes off Rafael Nadal of Spain as he serves to Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during the final match of the Rogers Cup men’s tennis tournament in Toronto, Canada, 12 August 2018. EPA-EFE/WARREN TODA
By Ricky Dimon
With the U.S. Open seeding set following this week’s action, the Western & Southern Open is every player’s last chance to jostle for seeding position at final Grand Slam of 2018. From No. 1 through No. 32 and slightly beyond, here’s what could happen the rest of the way in Cincinnati (Ricky breaks it down by each seeding group: 1, 2, 3-4, 5-8, 9-12, 13-16, 17-24, and 25-32):
1. Rafael Nadal – Locked into the No. 1 seed.
2. Roger Federer – Locked into the No. 2 seed.
3-4
3. Juan Martin Del Potro – Locked into a 3-4 seed (3 unless Kevin Anderson wins the title).
4. Alexander Zverev – Clinches a top 4 seed unless Anderson reaches the semifinals.
5-8
5. Kevin Anderson – Clinches a top 4 seed with a semifinal unless Marin Cilic wins the title. Has clinched at least a top 8 seed.
6. Marin Cilic – Clinches a top 4 seed with title if Anderson loses before the final. Has clinched at least a top 8 seed.
7. Grigor Dimitrov – Locked into a 5-8 seed.
8. Novak Djokovic – Clinches a top 8 seed unless David Goffin wins the title.
9-12
9. Dominic Thiem – Locked into a 9-12 seed (either No. 9 or No. 10).
10. John Isner – Locked into a 9-12 seed (either No. 10 or No. 11).
11. David Goffin – Clinches a top 8 seed with title or with a final if Djokovic loses before the quarterfinals. Has clinched at least a 9-12 seed.
12. Diego Schwartzman – Clinches a 9-12 seed unless Pablo Carreno Busta reaches the quarterfinals or Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov, or Milos Raonic wins the title.
13-16
13. Pablo Carreno Busta – Clinches a 9-12 seed with a final. Has a chance to clinch a 9-12 seed with a quarterfinal. Has clinched at least a 13-16 seed.
14. Fabio Fognini – Locked into a 13-16 seed.
15. Stefanos Tsitsipas – Clinches a 13-16 seed unless two of the following happen: Chung reaches final, Khachanov/Raonic/Denis Shapovalov/Nick Kyrgios wins title.
16. Kyle Edmund – Clinches a 13-16 seed unless one of the above happens.
17-24
17. Lucas Pouille – Locked into a 17-24 seed.
18. Jack Sock – Locked into a 17-24 seed.
19. Roberto Bautista Agut – Locked into a 17-24 seed.
20. Borna Coric – Locked into a 17-24 seed.
21. Kei Nishikori -Clinches a top 12 seed with title. Clinches a 13-16 seed with a semifinal. Has clinched at least a 17-24 seed.
22. Marco Cecchinato – Clinches a 17-24 seed unless three of the following happen: Chung reaches semifinals, Khachanov reaches semifinals, Raonic reaches semifinals, Shapovalov reaches semifinals, Kyrgios reaches final, or Marton Fucsovics/Leonardo Mayer/Robin Haase win title.
23. Hyeon Chung – Can earn a 13-16 seed with a final. Clinches a 17-24 seed unless two of the above happen.
24. Damir Dzumhur – Clinches a 17-24 seed unless Khachanov reaches the quarterfinals or one of Raonic, Shapovalov, and Kyrgios reaches semifinals, or either Fucsovics or Mayer reaches final.
25-32
25. Richard Gasquet – Locked into a 25-32 seed.
26. Karen Khachanov – Can earn a 9-12 seed with title. Can earn a 13-16 seed with final. Can earn a 17-24 seed with a quarterfinal. Has clinched at least a 25-32 seed.
27. Milos Raonic – Same as Khachanov except must reach semifinals for a 17-24 seed.
28. Denis Shapovalov – Can earn a 13-16 seed with title or final. Can earn a 17-24 seed with a semifinal. Has clinched at least a 25-32 seed.
29. Adrian Mannarino – Locked into a 25-32 seed.
30. Nick Kyrgios – Clinches a 13-16 seed with title. Clinches a 17-24 seed with final. Can earn a 17-24 seed with semifinal. Has clinched at least a 25-32 seed.
31. Fernando Verdasco – Clinches a 25-32 seed unless both of the following happen: Haase reaches final and either Fucsovics or Mayer reaches final.
32. Filip Krajinovic – Clinches a 25-32 seed unless one of the above happens.
Others
Marton Fucsovics – Can earn a 13-16 seed with title. Clinches at least a 17-24 seed with title and can earn a 17-24 seed with a final. Clinches a 25-32 seed with a semifinal.
Leonardo Mayer – Clinches a 17-24 seed with title. Can earn a 17-24 seed with a final. Clinches a 25-32 seed with a semifinal.
Robin Haase – Clinches a 17-24 seed with title. Clinches a 25-32 seed with a semifinal.