15th December 2007
Ricardas Berankis/Uladzimir Ignatik Number one scenarios
by Joshua Rey

Uladzimir Ignatik lost in the quarterfinals in singles and the second round in doubles at the Yucatan World Cup (ITF Grade 1). Both results are not good enough for him to gain any ranking points in the ITF's ranking system (best six singles and best six doubles results). Since he did not play at the Yucatan World Cup last season, he will finish 2007 with 1325 points .

Berankis entered the Yucatan World Cup with 1362.5 ranking points and is playing in the singles final and the doubles final this evening. As the 2006 singles champion, he's defending 150 points in singles but his final berth has already earned him 100 of those, which would be his sixth-best total of the year and count in his ranking should he lose in the singles final. His sixth-best doubles total before this tournament was 30 points, so he'll surpass that no matter what. Here are the points he stands to earn this week:

Yucatan Cup 2007 Singles -
                           RU: 100
                           W: 150
Yucatan Cup 2007 Doubles -
                           RU: 75 
                           W: 100

Should Berankis lose Singles Final and Doubles Final
Berankis singles points: 1290 - (150-100) = 1240
Berankis doubles points: 290 + (75-30) = 335
Berankis total points: 1240 + (335/4) = 1323.75

Should Berankis lose Singles Final and win Doubles Final
Berankis singles points: 1290 - 50 = 1240
Berankis doubles points: 290 + (100-30) = 360
Berankis total points: 1240 + (360/4) = 1330

Should Berankis win Singles Final and lose Doubles Final
Berankis singles points: 1290 - (150-150) = 1290
Berankis doubles points: 290 + 45 = 335
Berankis total points: 1290 + (335/4) = 1373.75

Should Berankis win Singles Final and Doubles Final
Berankis singles points: 1290 - 0 = 1290
Berankis doubles points: 290 + 70 = 360
Berankis total points: 1290 + (360/4) = 1380

So as long as Berankis wins one of the two finals, he will finish the year as the No. 1 player in the world. Should he lose both finals, Ignatik will be crowned ITF Junior Boys' World Champion. Here are links to today's order of play, Berankis' and Ignatik's ranking breakdowns and the ITF Junior Boys' Ranking system. Please note that Yucatan, Mexico is one-hour behind Miami so play doesn't begin until 6:45 p.m. local time.

OOP: http://www.copayucatan.com.mx/files/formatos/OOP_Sabado.pdf

Berankis:
http://www.itftennis.com/juniors/players/bestx.asp?player=100077805

Ignatik:
http://www.itftennis.com/juniors/players/bestx.asp?player=100049376

ITF system: http://www.itftennis.com/juniors/rankings/tournamentgrades.asp http://www.itftennis.com/juniors/rankings/combinedrankings.asp

Any questions or comments please contact:
Joshua Rey