Roger Federer's [ Images ] bid for a fourth Tennis Masters Cup title was given a boost when the world number one received a seemingly uncomplicated draw on Wednesday.

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The Swiss was drawn with American Andy Roddick [ Images ], Russia's [ Images ] Nikolay Davydenko [ Images ] and Chilean Fernando Gonzalez [ Images ] at the eight-man tournament beginning in Shanghai this weekend.

Federer, who has won the prestigious season-ending event for three of the last four years, has a combined win-loss record of 34-1 against his three Group One opponents.

World number two Rafael Nadal [ Images ] will face Serbian Novak Djokovic [ Images ], Frenchman Richard Gasquet and fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in round-robin competition.

The top two players from each group go through to the semi-finals. Nadal will play Gasquet in Sunday's opening match, to be followed by Djokovic against Ferrer.

The final of the $ 4.45-million tournament takes place on Nov. 18.