(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-11-12 09:45

Roger Federer was taking life very seriously as he began the defence of his Masters Cup title in Shanghi, the £1.8 million showcase event that is supposed to celebrate all that is good in tennis.

Former world number one tennis player Martina Hingis of Switzerland speaks during a news conference in Zurich, November 1, 2007. The 27-year old Swiss player said she will retire from professional tennis for a second time after struggling to recover from a string of injuries and health problems. [Agencies]

He plays his first match today against Chilean Fernando Gonzalez but of more pressing concern is his wish to defend his friend Martina Hingis.

Hingis announced her second retirement from the sport at the beginning of the month, revealing that she had tested positive for cocaine after her third-round defeat at Wimbledon. The former world No1 and holder of five grand slam titles is ready to fight to clear her name and denies ever having taken drugs.

"I can't ever imagine in any way that she took drugs," Federer said in an interview with a Swiss newspaper. "I hope that she can prove her innocence. I support her."

Federer, who was once a ballboy for Hingis, has been friends with his compatriot for many years. They played and won the Hopman Cup together back in 2000, which he still remembers with pride.

"I know she has said she was proud to have helped me at the beginning of my career," he said. "At the time, playing in doubles with her, was a privilege for me."

Federer said world No 2 Rafael Nadal remains his main rival despite two more defeats to muscular Argentina's David Nalbandian in the past month.

Federer was sent packing in the Madrid Masters final and then at Paris by Nalbandian, the only top-10 player apart from Nadal not to have a losing head-to-head record with the Swiss (8-8).

But Federer said his classic show-downs with Nadal, including five-set thrillers at this year's Wimbledon and at Rome last season, meant the Spaniard was still his biggest competitor.

"We've been at the very top for over two years at least and we've had a great rivalry," he said. "The match at Wimbledon will be ingrained in my memory, also the final in Rome. We've had some great matches and he remains my main competition."

Nadal notched up his first Masters Cup win of the year, beating Richard Gasquet 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Gold Group.

Nadal paid for a sluggish opening when Gasquet, in his first Masters Cup appearance, won the last of three break points with a pin-point forehand to go 5-3 up in the first set before serving it out.

In a roller-coaster second set, Nadal broke, was broken but then broke again in successive games before clinching it 6-3, pumping his fists in celebration.

As the Spaniard found his stride, Gasquet fell off the pace and capitulated in the fifth game of the third set, hitting a forehand long on the second break point to put Nadal 3-2 up and serving. Gasquet saved one match point at 5-3 but Nadal made no mistake on serve.

Nadal's compatriot David Ferrer defeated Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, 6-4, 6-4.