Tournament Preview: Shanghai 13-20 November 2005 TENNIS MASTERS CUP SHANGHAI 2005 The red carpet is set and the curtains are ready to rise on the world's top 8 players for 2005. The Tennis Masters Cup is the culminating point of the season which sees the top 8 players (or a Grand Slam winner if they are not already in the top 8) face off in a round robin competition for the final showdown. This year, the number one spot has already been sealed by Roger Federer. However, all players will still be keen to do well and win this prestigious year end championship. With the unfortunate withdrawal of Australian Open champion, Marat Safin, due to a knee injury he has been suffering since June, the coveted final spots were still up for grabs at the last regular tournament, the Paris Masters and were snatched up by Nikolay Davydenko and Ivan Ljubicic. Since then, Australian world number 4, Lleyton Hewitt, has withdrawn due to impending fatherhood and American Andy Roddick has withdrawn with a lower back injury. They will be replaced by Argentines, Gaston Gaudio and David Nalbandian respectively. Currently, the alternate spot is being occupied by fellow Argentine and French Open finalist, Mariano Puerta, and a further back-up (should there be any more withdrawals) is the much-improved Spaniard, David Ferrer. The singles participation list currently looks like this, but watch this space: Roger Federer: The undisputed world number 1 who has proved for the second year in succession that he is the man to beat on the circuit. With a staggering 11 tournament wins this season (at Doha, Rotterdam, Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, Hamburg, Halle, Wimbledon, Cincinnatti, US Open and Bangkok) and semifinals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, he has well and truly earned his spot at the top of the rankings. He made his Masters Cup debut in Shanghai in 2002 and last year won in Houston, beating Lleyton Hewitt 6-3 6-2. His participation this year had been in doubt due to a foot injury that had him on crutches and sidelined him since his Bangkok win in September. However, he is rested and has been in Shanghai since 6 November and will be well and truly in the spotlight come November 13. Rafael Nadal: If Roger Federer is the undisputed number 1, then this Spanish teenage sensation is most definitely the undisputed world number 2. In any other season, his amount of points and tournament wins would have had him at the top of the rankings, which proves the standard of the Federer era. After making the 4th round at the Australian Open where he pushed Hewitt to an epic 5 sets, Nadal has come on in leaps and bounds, pushing Federer to 5 sets in the Miami Masters final and claiming titles in Costa do Sauipe, Acapulco, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome, Båstad, Stuttgart, Montreal, Beijing, Madrid and capturing his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros in June, defeating Federer in the semifinals. He will be the youngest qualifier at the Masters Cup since Andrei Medvedev in 1993 and few will doubt that Nadal has brought a new dimension and fresh enthusiasm to the game. Although struggling with tendonitis in the knee towards the end of the season, "Rafa" has said he is very much looking forward to playing in Shanghai at his first Masters Cup, and he can rest assured, the fans will be just as keen to see him weave his magic on the court. Andre Agassi: The timeless tennis legend lives on as Agassi returns once again to the Tennis Masters Cup. The 35 year old American who is undoubtedly one of the icons of world tennis qualifies for the 2005 year end championship with a race ranking of 5. His only title this year came in Los Angeles, however his overall consistency throughout the year has been phenomenal. He reached the final of the Montreal Masters and the US Open, the semifinals of Dubai, Miami and Rome, and the quarter finals of the Australian Open, San José, Indian Wells and Houston. Although also initially in doubt to play due to a back injury, Andre has confirmed his participation. In what could be his final Masters Cup appearance, Chinese fans will look forward to welcoming the tennis great to their country once more. Guillermo Coria: Guillermo Coria was one of the players who secured his spot at the Masters Cup during the Paris Masters. He is returning to the year end championship after competing in Houstin in 2003 and 2004. In 2005 he was a finalist at the World Team Cup in Düsseldorf for his country, Argentina, and also won the tournament in Umag, Croatia. He also had epic finals against Nadal in Monte Carlo, Rome and Beijing, and reached the semifinals of Sopot and the quarter finals of Hamburg and the US Open. Not one of his best seasons, however still enough to put him amongst the top 8 at world number 6 and qualify him for his 3rd Tennis Masters Cup. Nikolay Davydenko: One of 3 players to be making his Masters Cup debut this year, Davydenko has been one of the work horses of 2005. He has experienced his best year ever on the tour, finishing the year with a Champions Race position of 7. Triumphing in St. Pölten, he also made the semifinals of Doha, Barcelona, Hamburg, Roland Garros, Stuttgart and Metz and reached the quarter finals at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Dubai, Cincinnatti and St. Petersburg. One of most improved players of 2005, Davydenko well deserves his spot at this year's Tennis Masters Cup. Ivan Ljubicic: Like Davydenko, big serving Croatian, Ivan Ljubicic, has been one of the ironmen of 2005. The first part of his year was characterised by losing finals to Roger Federer (Doha, Rotterdam and Dubai) but he won titles in Metz and Vienna and reached the additional finals of Marseille, the Madrid Masters (where he lost an epic 5 set battle against Nadal) and the Paris Masters, losing in 5 sets to unseeded Czech, Tomas Berdych. He also won the Zagreb challenger and reached the semifinals of Milan. He secured his Masters Cup spot at the Paris tournament in November and will be looking to put in another good performance, this time at his first Masters Cup in Shanghai. Gaston Gaudio: Was one of the players in contention for a Masters Cup spot during the Paris Masters, but was narrowly edged out by Davydenko and Ljubicic. Finishing the year at #9 in the race, his participation this year has been made possible due to Hewitt's late withdrawal. Gaudio made his Masters Cup debut last year after winning Roland Garros. This year, he has won 5 claycourt titles (in Viña del Mar, his home tournament in Buenos Aires, Estoril, Gstaad and Kitzbühel). He was also a finalist in Stuttgart and as part of the Argentinian team at the World Team Cup in Düsseldorf. As well as this, he made the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo, Paris and Montreal Masters Series tournaments and Barcelona. David Nalbandian: The Argentine's 2005 Masters Cup campaign was made possible by the withdrawal of American, Andy Roddick, with a back injury which was aggravated at the Paris Masters. Nalbandian will be making his second appearance at the Masters Cup after competing in Houston in 2003. His presence adds to the Argentine flavour of this year's championship as he joins compatriots Guillermo Coria, Gaston Gaudio and Mariano Puerta, the latter of whom is the alternate. This year, Nalbandian won the Munich title, was a semifinalist at the Madrid Masters and Basel, and a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon, Beijing, Vienna, the US Open and the Australian Open. Players are organised into 2 groups of 4, gold and red, and will play three round robin matches within their group, followed by semifinals and then the final. Each day will consist of 2 doubles matches (the first starting at 2pm, except for the first and final Sundays when play commences at 1pm) and 2 singles matches (the first starting at 7pm, except the final which starts at 4pm). The tournament is held at the amazing Qi Zhong Stadium with its futuristic magnolia petalled roof. The centre court, which seats 15 000, was completed in August 2005, however the rest of the complex (which will house a total of 40 courts) is not due for completion until the end of 2006. When finished, it will be the largest tennis facility in Asia. It is located in Ma Qiao Town of Minhang District, south west of the city. Shuttle buses will operate between the site and various downtown locations, however there are also almost 1000 parking spaces available for those who prefer to drive. The official tournament hotel is the Hilton Shanghai, located on Hua Shan Road. Tickets have been on sale since May 8 and online purchase has now closed. However, tickets may still be bought by dialling the hotline 96-28-962288. An average ticket in the A reserve section between Sunday 13 and Thursday 17 November will cost US $46, however, for more detailed information on seat plans and prices, visit http://www.masters-cup.com/en/news/2005/tickets_price.asp. The Masters Cup, being the culmination of a fine year of tennis, is about the creme de la creme - the world's best facing off to mark the official end of the ATP season. It is guaranteed to be full of excitement with displays of high class action by players who have fulfilled their dream of reaching the pinacle of their sport. So don't miss all the thrills and spills starting 13 November that is the Tennis Masters Cup...let the games begin! Tournament Fast Facts: Venue: Qi Zhong Stadium, Shanghai, China Dates: 13 - 20 November 2005 Main Draw Singles: 8 Main Draw Doubles: 8 Surface: Hard Prize Money: US $3 700 000 Tournament Director: Brad Drewett Singles Players: Roger Federer (SUI) Rafael Nadal (ESP) Andre Agassi (USA) Guillermo Coria (ARG) Nikolay Davydenko(RUS) Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) Gaston Gaudio (ARG) David Nalbandian (ARG) Alternate: Mariano Puerta (ARG) Anther possible alternate back-up: David Ferrer (ESP) Doubles Players: Bryan (USA)/Bryan (USA) Björkman (SWE)/Mirnyi (BLR) Black (ZIM)/Ullyett (ZIM) Knowles (BAH)/Nestor (CAN) Huss (AUS)/Moodie (RSA) Llodra (FRA)/Santoro (FRA) Paes (IND)/Zimonjic (SCG) Arthurs (AUS)/Hanley (AUS) Alternates: Erlich (ISR)/Ram (ISR)