Federer Paired with Ljuby, Argys in Masters Cup Draw

World No. 1 Roger Federer avoided a difficult round robin grouping Wednesday for the drawing of the Masters Cup field when -- well, most of the top talent has already dropped from the formerly-"elite" event.

Former No. 1s Marat Safin (knee), Lleyton Hewitt (groin, toe, baby) and now Andy Roddick (back) have all withdrawn, leaving the year-end championship field with only Federer and Andre Agassi as current or former No. 1s.

Players who otherwise should be golfing but will now fill voids in the field are Argentines Gaston Gaudio and David Nalbandian, and Croat Ivan Ljubicic who benefited from Safin's withdrawal.

Officials in Shanghai are holding their breath over Federer, who is now complaining of pain in his recently-injured ankle.

The top two players from each round robin group will emerge into the semifinals, with the Swiss No. 1 in the Red Group with Argentines Guillermo Coria, Nalbandian, and the explosively-dangerous Croat Ljubicic who has lost to Federer this year in finals at Doha, Rotterdam and Dubai.

Of greater interest will be the Gold Group, featuring the oldest player in the draw in Andre Agassi, the youngest in Rafael Nadal, hardcourt whipping boy Gaston Gaudio, and default top Russian Nikolay Davydenko.

For the doubles the Red Group consists of the American Bryan brothers, another former year-end No. 1 team in Knowles/Nestor, Paes/Zimonjic, and Aussies Arthurs/Hanley, while the Gold Group is Bjorkman/Mirnyi, Zimbabwe's finest Black/Ullyett, Frenchmen Llodra/Santoro, and surprise Wimbledon winners Huss/Moodie.

Singles and doubles play begins Sunday, Nov. 13 in Shanghai.