Is it possible at Federer is number 1 at the end of ATP World finals but loses it?

[timnz]

Apparently you can earn points in the Davis Cup. Since Nadal is playing in the Davis Cup final for Spain after this tournament, the following scenerio is possible:

Federer finishes ahead of Nadal in points at the end of this tournament and hence has the number 1 ranking. His year is done, thinking he has sown up the year end ranking..... but actually.... Nadal a few weeks later wins both his singles in the Davis Cup and inches ahead of Federer - hence Nadal finishes the ultimate year end number 1. (This could happen if Federer was say only 100 points ahead at the end of the ATP World Finals).

Wow, that would suprise a few people. I wonder if the ATP have thought of that before they award Federer the year end Number 1 ?

 

[AAAA]

I only pay cursory attention to the points system however I think there is a cut-off date for the year which may occur before Davis Cup.

Rest assured if the cut-off date is before Davis Cup and Federer r is #1 his detractors will debate the 'fairness' of a cut-of-date occuring before Nadal has played Davis Cup.

 

[timnz]

No cut-off

A cut-off date before the Davis cup is not possible because there is no way that this years Davis Cup points fit into 2010's ranking system.

And if they don't fit into 2010 and 2009 - then the points (150 potential points for Nadal) are meaningless. Hence, they must be part of 2009. Which makes the whole think bizarre if Federer is touted as the year end number 1 at the end of the ATP world finals and then gets overtaken by Nadal a few weeks later.

 

[AAAA]

A cut-off date before the Davis cup is not possible because there is no way that this years Davis Cup points fit into 2010's ranking system.

And if they don't fit into 2010 and 2009 - then the points (150 potential points for Nadal) are meaningless. Hence, they must be part of 2009. Which makes the whole think bizarre if Federer is touted as the year end number 1 at the end of the ATP world finals and then gets overtaken by Nadal a few weeks later.

Forget whether it's meaningless, it's what the rules state that matter.

 

[AAAA]

timnz, I found this on the ATP site

A. Davis Cup points will be awarded for the first time in 2009 for World Group and World Group playoff ties only. Points allocated are as part of the 500 point category. Davis Cup does not count towards a player's commitment to the 500 category. The points accumulated in the four ties within the previous 52 weeks can become part of a player's 500 category if:

1. Player has not more than three 500 results within the previous 52 weeks and Davis Cup result(s) is better than lowest best other.
2. Player has four 500 results within the previous 52 weeks and Davis Cup result(s) is better than the lowest 500. Also, 500 0-pointers cannot be replaced.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Rankings/Rankings-FAQ.aspx#pointvalue

It's late too tired to make sense of the above. May have to check Nadal's tier 500 results to see if his DC final points will be included.