Rusty Federer Survives in Masters Cup Debut

"I was mentally ready for a two-sets defeat," admitted Federer, who came back from a break down in the third set. "I haven't been in this situation very often the last couple of years, it's always difficult to come out of it. I really hoped that he would give me one opportunity -- he did, and I took it."

Nalbandian is one of a handful of players who snuck into the year-end finale after withdrawals by top players Marat Safin (knee), Andy Roddick (back) and Lleyton Hewitt (groin, toe, impending birth of first child, currently suing the ATP, etc.).

It was the first match in six weeks for Federer, who was last seen winning his 11th title of the year at Bangkok.

In the second match of the day, Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic, another draw-filler in Shanghai after player pull-outs, defeated Guillermo Coria 6-2, 6-3. While a late entry in Shanghai, Ljubicic is seen as a danger to reach the semifinals with his big-serving, go-for-broke style that is suited to the surface that both Federer and Rafael Nadal have deemed too fast for the occasion.

"I don't see myself winning too many matches on this surface," Coria said. "It's like playing on ice."

While Federer missed for the Masters Series events in Madrid and Paris while recuperating from the twisted ankle, Ljubicic took advantage of the absence of the Swiss, as well as many of the other top players in an injury-filled end of the year, by reaching the finals of both events, losing to Nadal and Tomas Berdych respectively.

Federer will tie John McEnroe's Open Era record of 82-3 if he wins Shanghai without losing any round robin matches.

"Maybe it's even good it was a three-setter so I really got to get even more match play," Federer said. "I'm very sure that the next match will be better, and the same again then for the third match. To start with a win in my group, that's definitely a cushion great to have."

In the opening round of the doubles, Aussies Wayne Arthurs/Paul Hanley handed the two-time defending champion Bryan brothers a loss 7-6 in the third, and (5) Paes/Zimonjic beat (4) Knowles/Nestor in three sets.

Scheduled for Monday in Shanghai are (3) Agassi vs. (5) Davydenko and (2) Nadal vs. (7) Gaudio, and in doubles Zimbabwe's (3) Black/Ullyett vs. Frenchmen (6)Llodra/Santoro, and (2) Bjorkman/Mirnyi vs. Wimbledon champs (8) Huss/Moodie.