Twenty-two-year-old Andy Murray's unwillingness to risk his injured left wrist in order to play for his country may well cost him his world No 3 ranking.
The Scot has withdrawn from next week's Shanghai Masters on medical advice while he recovers from the injury, which he aggravated playing in Britain's Davis Cup tie against Poland in Liverpool last month.
Murray, who briefly rose to world No 2 in the summer, had been due to defend 1,000 ranking points in China, and is withdrawal from the Shanghai Masters could see him drop to number four in world tennis rankings.
Novak Djokovic is now within striking distance of reclaiming the No 3 spot after being overtaken by Murray in the spring.
Djokovic, who could pick up points this week at the China Open in Beijing, has good memories of Shanghai, having won the Tennis Masters Cup there last November.
The Serb has fewer points to defend than Murray both next week and at the year's final Masters event in Paris next month.
Murray sustained the injury in the build up to the US Open two months ago and suffered a recurrence at Flushing Meadows. Although he made light of it at the time, it seems likely that the injury played a significant part in his lacklustre performance in losing to Marin Cilic.
According to The Independent, players tend to care about rankings not only because they reflect their abilities but also because they can earn easier draws in tournaments.
Murray will be hoping principally to keep his place in the top four come the Australian Open in January.
