Shanghai - Roger Federer went through what has become his annual sponsor obligation as he taught a group of Chinese teenagers how to shave at a public relations event as the countdown continued on Friday to the Masters Cup.

The Swiss top seed - number one Rafael Nadal is missing with right knee tendinitis - will open his title defence on Monday against France's Gilles Simon.

Federer showed quick hands off the court as he brandished a microphone in one fist and a razor in the other during the "first shave" with a group of local 18-year-olds.

Doha - Silhouettes instead of photographs, and computer manipulation to conceal thighs: that is how Qatar promoted this week's season-ending WTA Championship.

For years the WTA has appealed to sensuality to sell its stars, but the first experience of a Masters tournament in the Middle East left it with no alternative but to moderate its presentations.

Shanghai - France's Gilles Simon will get a test of fire in his opening group match at the Masters Cup starting on Sunday when he faces holder Roger Federer.

Simon only squeezed into the field on Monday when world number one Rafael Nadal withdrew with a knee injury, now diagnosed as tendinitis.

Federer has won the last two editions in Shanghai and hopes to end the four-year run in China for the year-end event with a trophy hat-trick.

The Swiss who quit the Paris Masters last week with back pains, has won five Masters trophies and is top seed at the 4.45 million-dollar showcase.

Andy Murray and Andy Roddick make up the remaining members of Federer's Red group.

Washington, Nov 5 : Tennis player Andy Roddick has backtracked on a deal to give tennis lesson in the buff after a woman bid 11,200 dollars for the chance at a charity auction.

The offer from Roddick was auctioned off at one of Sir Elton John''s AIDS Foundation fundraisers earlier this year (08).

However, Roddick has backtracked over the naked training, insisting it was just a joke.

London, Nov. 5 : Former Wimbledon champion John McEnroe believes that Britain’s Andy Murray is a serious contender for the end-of-season Masters Cup in Shanghai.

Washington, Nov 5: Former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker has split from his fiancee of three months.

The ex- fiancée of Becker has confirmed to People that she has split from the tennis legend.

The tennis ace earlier confirmed to the German magazine Bunte that he had broken off his engagement to Alessandra Meyer-Wolden.

Becker texted the publication''s Web site Tuesday and said, "Yes, it's true, unfortunately."

According to sources, the 40-year-old sportstar broke the news to his friends and family, including his ex-wife, Barbara, over the weekend.

He and the 25-year-old Meyer- Wolden – whom he''s known since she was a child – had announced their engagement in August.