Shanghai - With Rafael Nadal in injury crisis and missing the Masters Cup, healthy contenders began finding their form in smoggy Shanghai under the closed roof at the Qi Zhong stadium for the season-ending classic starting on Sunday.

Andy Murray, playing the eight-man wrap-up event for the first time in his career, has been keeping a relatively high profile, attending the midweek draw ceremony and earning praise from former great John McEnroe.

Hamburg - Rafael Nadal of Spain led the way in the men's tennis rankings, with the latest list published on Monday by the ATP seeing an unchanged top 10.

Nadal, who has already clinched the prestigious year-ending top spot for the first time in his career, has 7,100 points.

Former number one Roger Federer, who won a third straight home title at the Swiss Indoors in Basle on Sunday, is second with 5,805 points, and third-ranked Serb Novak Djokovic has 4,575 points.

Rafael Nadal has gained the Olympic medal at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre on Sunday. He defeated Fernando Gonzalez of Chile with 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3 in a very interesting game. He has not only decorated his own career but also increased the prestige of his native land Spain by getting first gold in tennis for the country. He will be now counted in the top five players of the world.

Miami - Rafael Nadal wore down Tomas Berdych 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 on Friday to reach his second final at the Miami Masters.