Nadal, Hewitt, Roddick Head ATP Masters Series-Canada Field

In last year's final Federer capped a four-straight tournament win streak, beating Roddick 7-5, 6-3 to follow up consecutive wins at Halle, Wimbledon, and Gstaad. The Swiss became the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1979 to win three consecutive titles on three different surfaces.

Federer's absence gives Roddick, who won the Washington title last week, another chance to collect some pre-US Open mojo before the Swiss returns to the ATP tour next week at the Masters Series-Cincinnati.

Roddick is the No. 3 seed in Montreal behind French Open champ Rafael Nadal and former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, joined among the Top 8 seeds by L.A. champ Andre Agassi, Russian Nikolay Davydenko, and Argentines Gaston Gaudio, Guillermo Coria and Mariano Puerta.

For Nadal, Montreal is an opportunity to gain valuable points to contend with Federer for the year-end No. 1 ranking.

Stand-outs among the bottom eight seeds are struggling Brit Tim Henman and French wunderkind Richard Gasquet.

The top quarter of the draw is dirt-like with (1) Nadal vs. countryman and former No. 1 Carlos Moya in his opener, and (15) Gasquet potentially waiting in the third round. The Argentine (8) Puerta is the next-highest seed behind Nadal.

Other openers of interest in the top quarter are Paradorn Srichaphan vs. Sebastien Grosjean in a meeting of former tour forces, (15) Gasquet vs. Mikhail Youzhny, (12) Thomas Johansson vs. "Dr." Ivo Karlovic, and Belgian Xavier "X-Man" Malisse vs. Canadian wildcard Frank "You Can" Dancevic.

Roddick and Davydenko head the second quarter, with the American opening against the last man to gain direct entry into the main draw, French choker extraordinaire Paul-Henri Mathieu. Roddick has been granted the easiest road to the semifinals, and will be smashing Babolats if he is not alive on Friday.

Agassi and Gaudio head the third quarter, with Agassi taking on Spaniard Al Martin and Gaudio opening against a qualifier. Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui attempts another comeback from his chronic foot injury, facing Spain's Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez. Other openers of note are (13) Ivan Ljubicic vs. Taylor Dent, and Vince Spadea facing a qualifier to possibly match-up against Agassi in the second round.

Lleyton Hewitt and Guillermo Coria head the bottom quarter, with Hewitt opening against a qualifier, and Coria in his opener in what would otherwise be a claycourt final elsewhere on tour against former No. 1 and Roland Garros champ Juan Carlos Ferrero. Brit (10) Tim Henman will have a tester right off the bat against Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty in his opener, with (16) Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez in a slugfest with Max "The Beast" Mirnyi. Hewitt will also have to navigate a difficult draw, with potentials Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic in the second round, then (16) Gonzo, The Beast, or "Grinning" Greg Rusedski in the third round.

Potential quarterfinal match-ups include (1) Nadal vs. (8) Puerta in a French Open rematch, (3) Roddick vs. (9) Nalbandian, (4) Agassi vs. (6) Gaudio, and (2) Hewitt vs. (7) Coria, Ferrero, (10) Henman or Hrbaty.

Returning champions in the field are Roddick (2003), Andrei Pavel (2001), Thomas Johansson (1999), and the three-time champ Agassi (1995-94,'92).

On court Monday in Montreal are Youzhny vs. (15) Gasquet, The Dominator vs. (10) Henman, (9) Nalbandian vs. Chela in an all-Argentine, A.Martin vs. (4) Agassi, (WC) Niemeyer vs. (5) Davydenko, Ricardo Mello "Yello" vs. (WC) Bester, (Q) K.Kim vs. (11) Robredo, (16) Gonzo vs. The Beast, (Q) Wawrinka vs. Rusedski, Luis "Me So" Horna vs. (8) Puerta, Saulnier vs. Baby Goran, (Q) Okun vs. Beck, Christophe "The Roach" Rochus vs. Pavel, Olivier "The Roach Too" Rochus vs. (Q) Mahut, (Q) Bjorkman vs. Spadea, and (6) Gaudio vs. (Q) Sanguinetti.