Stefanos Tsitsipas in position to snatch second seeding at Australian Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has been enjoying his United Cup experience, so far going unbeaten in singles and mixed doubles.
The team tournament could also help Tsitsipas clinch a favourable second seeding at the Australian Open.
Tsitsipas stands to move from World No 4 up to World No 2 if he can help Greece to the title by winning his semi-final singles match and again win in the final match.
He is set to face Italy’s No 1 Matteo Berrettini in the final four tie which will put 105 points on the table for the Greek in that match.
Berrettini conversely stands to win 130 rankings points if he can beat his top-ten opponent.
Both the ATP and WTA have allotted singles rankings points to the tournament, but the points are scaled according to the existing ranking of the opponent.
Tsitsipas will take himself to within five points of World No 2 Casper Ruud but if a win can help Greece into the final he will have a shot at leapfrogging both Ruud and Rafael Nadal and anchoring the Australian Open draw.
Greece could face either Poland or the United States in the final and as both their No 1s are also ranked in the top ten, there should be 180 rankings points on the line for Tsitsipas.
A singles win in the United Cup final should secure Tsitsipas the World No 2 ranking ahead of the announcement of the Australian Open seeds next week.
Carlos Alcaraz is guaranteed to hold the top ranking and therefore also the top seeding come next week.
The possible second seeds are Nadal and Tsitsipas with the Spaniard and World No 3 Casper Ruud eliminated from the United Cup in the Group stage.
Novak Djokovic has the potential to rocket up the rankings this month with no points to defend but this week he is rooted to the No 5 ranking as he cannot catch any of the four players ahead of him and is out of reach of the chasing pack.
World No 6 on the ATP Live Rankings Andrey Rublev (World No 8 on the official ranking) could lose out on the sixth seeding if his compatriot Daniil Medvedev wins the Adelaide International 1 title.
United Cup triumphs would not allow either World No 9 Fritz or World No 10 Hurkacz to break into the top eight seeds for the Australian Open men’s singles.
The Australian Open draw takes place on Thursday 12 January 2023.
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