Federer gunning for fifth title

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Roger Federer's path to a fifth Masters Cup title has been smoothed by the absence of Rafael Nadal but he will have to face down a band of talented young guns to take the lion's share of the $4.45 million purse next week.

The 27-year-old has closed out dominant seasons by reigning supreme in Shanghai for the last two years, but his star has waned in 2008 and he withdrew from last week's Paris Masters with a back injury.

Still, with world number one Nadal sidelined by tendonitis of the knee, few would bet against the Swiss bidding farewell to the Qi Zhong arena by winning a fifth title in six years.

"I've been very successful at the last tournament of the season," Federer said after winning in Basel last month.

"I've shown I've got something left in the tank and the fact it's indoors and hard court has also always played in my favor. It's also the last time it will be taking place there in terms of the Masters Cup so I hope I can finish well."

Federer is in the toughest of the two groups and will face in-form Briton Andy Murray, American Andy Roddick and French world number nine Gilles Simon, Nadal's replacement in the eight-man field.

Murray, the world number four, arrives in Shanghai on a high after winning titles at the Madrid Masters and in St Petersburg and reaching the Paris Masters quarter-finals in successive events.

"Since Wimbledon I've played the best tennis of my life, and hopefully I can keep it going," said the 21-year-old U.S. Open runner-up.

FIRST TASTE

Federer and Murray have to wait until Monday to get their first taste of the action with the group headed by Serbian Novak Djokovic in the spotlight on the opening day.

The 21-year-old world number three will take on Juan Martin Del Potro, a year his junior, in Sunday's first match while Nikolay Davydenko and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga meet later in the same group.

Argentine Del Potro, making his first Masters Cup appearance after a year when he has risen from 50th to eighth in the world, is struggling with a toe injury.

Hardworking Russian Davydenko usually has little left at this stage of the season and has got past the round robin stage -- the top two from each group go through to the semi-finals -- just once in three Masters Cup appearances.

Tsonga is another player on a high after sealing his place in Shanghai with a win on home soil in Paris.

"I'm going to go there really to represent France and all my family and my friends," said the 23-year-old. "That's it. I'm going to represent everyone and I'm going to give my best."

The season finale moves to Madrid next year.

(Additional reporting by Mark Ledsom and Julien Pretot; Editing by Ed Osmond)