SHANGHAI, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Defending champion David Nalbandian of Argentina meets world No. 1 Roger Federer of Switzerland in the first round at the ATP Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai.
The two players met in a marathon tie-breaker in last year's final, which Nalbandian won.
Also on the first day of the season-ending tournament Sunday, No. 4 seed Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia plays fifth-seeded American Andy Roddick.
On Day 2 of the event, second-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain meets eighth-seeded James Blake of the United States, and third-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia will play No. 6 Tommy Robredo of Spain.
In the Red Group are Federer, Nalbandian, Ljubicic and Roddick. Nadal, Davydenko, Robredo and Blake are in the Gold Group.
The players entered in the event were the top eight players on the tour this season.
Federer, the favorite, brings a 24-match winning streak into the event.
The eventual champion will claim just over $1 million.
