Shanghai - Proud Roger Federer has pronounced himself massively dissatisfied with his current label of "second best" in tennis after losing the number one ranking last August to Rafael Nadal.

And the fired-up Swiss has plans to reclaim the top honour he held for four and a half seasons, starting with his opening match on Monday at the Masters Cup.

"I don't like the ring of it," said the 13-time Grand Slam champion on Saturday during the presentation for Sunday's start of the eight-man season-wrapup event.

"When I'm being introduced on centre court, it just sounds wrong to me, a bit awkward," added the defending champion aiming for a Shanghai trophy hat-trick as he starts in the Red group against Gilles Simon.

"I've been up there for so long that it sounds unfamiliar."

Any suggestions? "I'm number one or a Grand Slam champion - but not number two," said the Swiss, sporting an obvious touch of wounded pride.

"It's a challenge to get back to where I was. Next year will be a good chance. I'll do all I can and starting here."

Round robin play at the Qi Zhong stadium for opening day will feature Novak Djokovic against Argentine Juan Del Potro followed by Nikolay Davydenko against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, last weekend's Paris winner.

Federer has a point to prove against Simon, who beat him in an opening-round contest last summer in Toronto.

The Frenchman backed into the field when world number one Nadal pulled out with right knee tendinitis, leaving Federer the favourite to collect a trophy hat-trick before Shanghai morphs into regular a Masters 1000 event next October.

With cordiality between the elite pair at the top of tennis a given, Federer expressed mild regrets at the Spaniard's absence.

"It's not disappointing for me, but for tennis and for himself. Of course I would have loved to see him play here. There is no guarantee we would have played - especially at an event like this.

"I hope he gets fit again, I never like to see my rivals or the best players being injured."

Andy Roddick, also in Federer's Red "group of death" along with Andy Murray and Simon, said that Nadal has to make his own decisions, with the Spaniard desperate to participate in the late-November Davis Cup final in Argentina.

"It's his decision to make," said the American who has gone away empty handed in five previous year-end appearances. "No one can sit here and tell him how his body feels,

"Rafa has earned every right to pick and chose what he want to prioritise in his game."

While Federer leads the field in China, Nadal is stuck at home on the island of Majorca resting his knee, taking treatment and hoping for a recovery miracle.

Federer withdrew eight days ago from the quarter-finals in Paris as a precaution against back pains, which he says are under control.

"The problem needs as much time as possible to get ready for Monday, then things are going to be fine," he said with confidence. (dpa)