From Men's Tennis Forums, here's a profile of what the players in mathematical contention need to do to secure a spot in Shanghai:
(+31) Andy Roddick (USA): PARIS - 99.9% assured of his place,
whatever he does...would need 3 contenders behind him to advance to the
SF stage, and most likely 1 of them appear in the final. Not likely...
(+16) Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG): PARIS - in a reasonable position...Ferrer
& co. must reach at least the QF to overtake him, should he lose in
R2; losing in R3/QF would force the bar up to a SF.
(+3) Gilles Simon (FRA): PARIS - mustn't fall earlier than Ferrer, AND
hope that anyone behind him doesn't have a great week (SF or beyond,
depending on the situation).
....................
(-3) David Ferrer (ESP): PARIS - Must out-perform Simon by 1 round / Del Potro by 2 rounds (prior to QF stage),
AND hope that anyone behind him doesn't go on the rampage. If he were
to fall in R3, Blake would need a SF; if Ferrer goes further, Blake
& co. would need final/title win (depending on the player's points
total).
....................
(-31) James Blake (USA): PARIS - must reach the SF...if
Simon reaches R3/Ferrer reaches QF, he must reach the final, and if
either reaches the SF, he must win the title, hoping that Simon isn't
in the final.
(-40) Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI): PARIS - must reach the SF...if
Simon or Ferrer reach R3, he must reach the final, and if either
reaches SF, he must win the title, hoping that neither is in the final.
(-51) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA): PARIS - must reach the final...if Simon or Ferrer reach QF, he must win the title.
(-57) Fernando Gonzalez (CHI): OUT
(-66) David Nalbandian (ARG): PARIS - must reach the final...if Simon or Ferrer reach R3, he must win the title.
(-73) Fernando Verdasco (ESP): PARIS - must win Paris,
and hope that Simon and Ferrer don't make SF, and anyone else behind
Simon and Ferrer doesn't make the final/win the title (depending on the
player's points total).
(-77) Gael Monfils (FRA): PARIS - must win Paris, and
hope that Simon doesn't make QF, Ferrer doesn't make SF, and anyone
else behind Simon and Ferrer doesn't make the final/win the title
(depending on the player's points total).
(-83) Robin Soderling (SWE): PARIS - must win Paris, and
hope that Simon and Ferrer don't make QF, and anyone else behind Simon
and Ferrer doesn't make the final/win the title (depending on the
player's points total).
(-87) Nicolas Almagro (ESP): OUT
(-99) Igor Andreev (RUS): PARIS - must win Paris, but,
more importantly, must pray that Simon and Ferrer lose their openers,
and anyone else behind Simon and Ferrer doesn't make SF/final/win the
title (depending on the player's points total).
