Top three qualify for Shanghai Masters Cup

New Delhi:

New Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal, world number one Roger Federer and No. 3 Serbian Novak Djokovic have qualified for the 2008 Shanghai Tennis Masters Cup from November 9-16.

Defending champion Federer, finalist in the last five years, won back-to-back titles in 2003-04 and again in 2006-07.

World no. 2 Nadal, who last week became the first player since Sweden's Bjorn Borg in 1980 to capture the Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles in the same year, has been a semi-finalist in his two appearances at Masters.

Djokovic is in his second straight Masters, having won three titles and compiled a 38-9 win-loss record this season.

New Wimbledon doubles champions Daniel Nestor of Canada and Serbian Nenad Zimonjic, and American twins Bob and Mike Bryan, have also clinched the first two doubles berths in the elite eight-team field.

"It is wonderful to see these three great players, Rafa, Roger and Novak, qualify for the Shanghai event again. The 2008 event is certain to be a thrilling finale as the battle for the year-end World No.1 ranking is the closest in years," said tournament director Brad Drewett.

The top seven players in the ATP 2008 Race and the top seven teams in the Stanford ATP Doubles Race following the BNP Paribas Masters qualify for the circuit finale, with one spot reserved for Grand Slam champions finishing in the Top 20.