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 [ Images ] 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 [ Images ], Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France [ Images ] and Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro [ Images ].

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.