Top Eight Set for Masters Cup

The wait is over and the top eight are set to go in Shanghai for the Masters Cup title. Drawings for the round-robin groups put Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Nikolay Davydenko and Fernando Gonzalez in the Red Group.

The Gold Group – obviously – has the other top four players in the world: Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Richard Gasquet and Novak Djokovic.

Perhaps Ferrer said it best, “It is a tough draw…but all opponents are very difficult here as it is only the top eight players in the world.”

Yes, it’s hard to get an easy road to victory when the worst player in the group is ranked No. 8 in the entire world.

I would imagine some players – namely the No. 1 and 2-ranked players – are breathing a sigh of relief that one name is noticeably absent from the pool: David Nalbandian.

Nalbandian is currently No. 9 in the world and was to be the first alternate if someone withdrew. Nalbandian has decided to forego travel to Shanghai in hopes of being able to play and will continue his training instead.

I’m sure Federer and Nadal are anxious to get back on the court with Nalbandian – at some point. A true competitor always wants another shot at the person who beat them, but Nalbandian beat them both twice in the past two tournaments.

I’m guessing both Fed and Nadal are okay with taking a bit of a break from facing Nalbandian across the net.