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Roger Federer [Images] 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 (2.8 million pounds) tournament.

The Swiss is top seed in the absence of Spain's world number one Rafael Nadal [Images], 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 and American Andy Roddick [Images] 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 [Images] heads the Gold Group, which also includes Russian Nikolay Davydenko, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France [Images] and Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro.

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