Federer came from a set down to demolish Nalbandian 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, while Andy Roddick won a tight match with Ivan Ljubicic.
SHANGHAI: World number one Roger Federer came from a set down to demolish defending champion David Nalbandian 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, while Andy Roddick won a tight match with Ivan Ljubicic as the Masters Cup opened on Sunday.
The fired-up Roddick, under the watchful eye of mentor Jimmy Connors, squandered two match points in a second-set tie-breaker before coming through 6-4, 6-7 (9-11), 6-1.
Earlier Federer, who missed last week's Paris Masters citing fatigue, committed a string of unforced errors in a rusty first set as the tournament kicked off with a re-run of the classic 2005 final. But the Swiss machine soon clicked into gear, producing some vintage moments as Nalbandian imploded.
"This is the defending champion, I knew it was going to be tough," Federer said.
"He was just a better player in the beginning, thank God I was able to turn it around. It's always very important to win the first match in a round robin so this is a very good start for me."
The 2003 and 2004 champion is bidding to become the first player to win three Masters Cup titles and the first man since Pete Sampras to win three year-ending championships.
He was broken in the third game before breaking back for 3-3, as Nalbandian became the first Masters Cup player to challenge a line-call using the new "Hawkeye" video technology and was over-ruled.
But the Argentine found a forehand return to break for 4-3 and was gifted the first set by Federer's only double-fault of the match.
It was a different story in the second set as Federer broke immediately and thrilled the Qi Zhong Stadium crowd with some brilliant tennis to level it in 28 minutes. The Swiss took the fourth game with a quick interchange at the net, and charged from behind the baseline to chase down a drop shot and break for 4-1.
After holding to love, Federer converted his first set point when Nalbandian found the net. The game was up for Nalbandian when the Argentine world number seven was broken twice to go 0-4 down.
With the unforced error count ticking higher, Nalbandian finally won a game for 5-1 but then handed the Swiss the first of three set points as he dumped a forehand into the net.
Nalbandian also lost last year's opening match to Federer by two sets to one before coming from behind to beat the hobbling Swiss in the final.
"I'm still in the fight, nothing is finished today," Nalbandian said. "I have to win the next two matches and I know if I play well I can beat them. I have to work a little bit more."
In Sunday's second match Roddick, resurgent under Connors' tutelage, harangued the umpire in the style of John McEnroe as he emerged from two close-fought sets to take the third with ease.
The combustible American drew whistles from the crowd as he lambasted umpire Mohamed Lahyani after a line judge called a Ljubicic foul before changing his mind.
Roddick, who missed last year's tournament with a back injury, then let slip two match points as he lost the second-set tie-break 9-11. But he got lucky with a net cord after coming through five deuces to save for 2-1.
The world number five, screaming at himself after putting a forehand long, broke the fading Ljubicic twice before serving out.
It was Roddick's first match since aggravating a foot injury at last month's Madrid Masters, and stretches his record against the Croatian to 6-3.
World number two Rafael Nadal will play James Blake in Monday's Gold Group opener while Russia's Nikolay Davydenko takes on Tommy Robredo.
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