The pair will meet on Sunday afternoon in the opening match of the eight-man, eight-day event in Shanghai.
SHANGHAI: The draw for the season-ending Masters Cup has thrown up an instant classic with Roger Federer getting a chance to take revenge on David Nalbandian after losing to the Argentine a year ago in the final.
The pair will meet on Sunday afternoon in the opening match of the eight-man, eight-day event in Shanghai. Federer arrived on Monday while Rafael Nadal is landing here on Wednesday and the rest of the field also falling into place as the season wrap-up returned to Shanghai for a second-consecutive year.
The Swiss reportedly spent a few days last week at his training base in Dubai, hitting a few friendly balls with former great Bjorn Borg.
It was the second time the current and former heroes have run into each other in the Emirates after the 50-year-old Swede presented the runner-up trophy to his younger compatriot after a loss in the Dubai ATP event in March against Rafael Nadal.
The Shanghai draw puts Federer on a collision course with defending champion Nalbandian in the red group, in which American Andy Roddick and Croatian Ivan Ljubicic are also playing.
In the blue group, Nadal heads a field rounded out by Russian Nikolay Davydenko, last weekend’s Paris winner, Spain’s Tommy Robredo, and the second American in the field, James Blake.
Federer stands a thin 7-6 overall record against Nalbandian, who won their first five meetings in 2002-03, but the world No. 1 seized control from that point - his only defeat in their last eight encounters coming at Shanghai 12 months ago.
The 25-year-old Federer, aiming to conclude his season with a 12th title, has laid down a challenge to the rest of the field through his unmatched performances throughout another sparkling season.
“I really feel over the last couple of years now I’ve become a steadier player with more choices in my game,” said Federer. “I can vary great now, and I can rely on my serve. That wasn’t always the case. I hope to stay healthy, to keep winning, because I like it.”
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