Masters Cup Kicks Off in Shanghai
Posted on November 11, 2006The Masters Cup kicks off late Saturday EST in the U.S., Sunday in Shanghai, with Argentine David Nalbandian as the defending champ.
World No. 1 Roger Federer will look to put a stamp on a dominating season, in a difficult round robin grouping with Nalbandian, who he lost to in last year's final, Ivan Ljubicic and Andy Roddick.
The second round robin group contains two year-end championship rookies in Tommy Robredo and James Blake, battling an injured Rafael Nadal who attempts to return from an abdominal injury, and the in-form Nikolay Davydenko.
Federer is 10-3 vs. Ljubicic and 11-1 vs. Roddick, and has dominated Nalbandian, losing last year's final on a gimpy ankle.
After an early loss at the final event of the year, the Master Series-Paris, Blake back-doored his way into the championship when competitors Mario Ancic and Tommy Haas failed to go the distance.
Day One in Shanghai features Federer vs. Nalbandian in a replay of last year's final, and Ljubicic vs. Roddick in a serve-a-thon. Roddick has lost his last two against Ljubicic, and hasn't beaten a Top 10 player in 2006.
World No. 1 Roger Federer will look to put a stamp on a dominating season, in a difficult round robin grouping with Nalbandian, who he lost to in last year's final, Ivan Ljubicic and Andy Roddick.
The second round robin group contains two year-end championship rookies in Tommy Robredo and James Blake, battling an injured Rafael Nadal who attempts to return from an abdominal injury, and the in-form Nikolay Davydenko.
Federer is 10-3 vs. Ljubicic and 11-1 vs. Roddick, and has dominated Nalbandian, losing last year's final on a gimpy ankle.
After an early loss at the final event of the year, the Master Series-Paris, Blake back-doored his way into the championship when competitors Mario Ancic and Tommy Haas failed to go the distance.
Day One in Shanghai features Federer vs. Nalbandian in a replay of last year's final, and Ljubicic vs. Roddick in a serve-a-thon. Roddick has lost his last two against Ljubicic, and hasn't beaten a Top 10 player in 2006.