With his first-round victory over Ernests Gulbis in Valencia, it appears that Amercian Sam Querrey will at least crack the Top 100 when the new rankings are released next week. After undergoing elbow surgery in late June, the former Top 20 player returned in September and played three USTA Challengers, reaching the semis of two and the final of one. Last week, Querrey fell in the first round of qualifying in Vienna. Querrey has said his goal is to ensure that he end the season ranked in the Top 104, so that he doesn’t have to try and qualify for the 2012 Australian Open.
In other ATP news, American Mardy Fish retired in the first round of Basel against James Blake with a hamstring injury. Fish is in eighth place in the ATP Points Race to London and has a 505-point lead over No. 9 Nicolas Almagro. He will still hang on to eight place going into the ATP’s final regular season event next week at Masters Series Paris/Bercy. Even if Almagro wins Valencia, he will only net +320 points.
American Donald Young, who lost in the first round of Basel, is ranked No. 43, close to his career high, but will likely have to qualify for Paris. If he is to be seeded at the Australian Open, he will need to advance a few rounds.