Federer opens bid for Masters hat-trick against Simon

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Roger Federer will open his bid for a third successive Masters Cup title, and a fifth in all, against Gilles Simon after being grouped with the Frenchman in Wednesday's draw for the $4.45 million tournament.

The Swiss is top seed in the absence of Spain's world number one Rafael Nadal, whose withdrawal through injury allowed Simon to take his place in the season-ending event for the top eight men in the world.

In-form world number four Andy Murray of Britain and American Andy Roddick complete the Red Group, from which the top two players advance to the semi-finals after the round robin stage.

Serbia's world number three Novak Djokovic heads the Gold Group, which also includes Russian Nikolay Davydenko, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France and Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro.

The tournament starts on the hard court of the Qi Zhong arena on Sunday, with the final -- to be contested over three sets rather than five -- on November 16.

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by Peter Rutheford)