Masters Cup Singles Begins Monday with Federer, Hewitt

"I've already locked up the No. 1 ranking so that puts away a lot of pressure. I can just concentrate on winning the title," Federer said. "My goal is to stay as long as possible at No. 1 next year. It seems like next year already. I want to keep the momentum of 2004 going into next year. I would rather know I can beat all these guys. All the opponents know in the back of their minds they will have to do a lot to beat me."

Federer couldn't have received a better draw grouping at the Masters Cup, with Red Group round robin mates Lleyton Hewitt, Carlos Moya and Gaudio. In addition to his perfect record against Gaudio, Fed leads Carlos Moya (who is coming off a shoulder injury) 4-0 in their career meetings, and handed Hewitt two bagel sets in their last encounter in the US Open final.

Federer says he is healed from the muscle tear that sidelined him a couple week ago at Basel.

"I can play and move like I want to," Club Fed said. "It's really looking very good. I know what I need to do to be ready to play at 1 o'clock Monday. With the confidence I have right now, it's not so difficult to get the momentum back."

Hewitt vs. Moya (career meetings tied 5-5, with Hewitt winning the last three), a battle of former No. 1s, is the other opening-day match on Monday in Houston.

World No. 2 Andy Roddick and the red-hot Marat Safin are the players to beat in the Blue Group, with Guillermo Coria and Tim Henman also fighting for semifinals spots in the round robin.

"It has undoubtedly been my best year and it's because of how I played in the Slams," Henman said. "The French Open was a big breakthrough, getting to another Grand Slam semifinal. It just goes to show how much my game has improved. It's exciting for me for next year. My performance has improved and it has given me confidence for next year."

Not helping Henman's aggressive game will be the potential cold weather and rainy forecast for Houston over the next couple days, fueling the fire of critics such as Safin who ridiculed holding the year-end championships outdoors on the heels of the indoor European season.

Coria is coming back (many say too soon) from shoulder surgery, while Roddick is lacking match play, skipping much of the European indoor season due to a knee problem.

Safin won all three of his 2004 titles after the US Open, including back-to-back Masters Series events in Madrid and Paris.

"It would be great for me to do well here," said Safin, whose late-year surge could position him for a run at No. 1 in mid-2005 with some quality early-season results. "It would be the perfect end to this year to build up confidence to start next year...You have to play well all year to fight for No. 1. At the start of this year I was 89th and I will finish fourth. Whatever I do here I will be very happy. Hopefully next year I will be more stable all year. That's the most important thing."

Roddick failed in 2004 to repeat his U.S. summer hardcourt/US Open heroics, but says his solid campaign this year will have him challenging for the top spot again.

"I feel like I'm close. It's tough to go from close to get over that little hump," said Roddick, contemplating renewing his somewhat-anemic rivalry with Federer this week in Houston.

"Roger gets me when we get into extended matches. It's more of me getting into an extended mindset," A-Rod said. "With Roger, you can't say, 'This is a weakness.' You have to say, 'What can I do most effectively against him?'"

While Federer has already clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking, eyes will be on Roddick and Hewitt to see who can finish No. 2 on the year to take the momentum into 2005.

"I'm not worried about Roger," Roddick said. "If I get him out there, fine, but I've got Tim Henman on Tuesday and that's what I'm worried about."