Roger Federer of Switzerland holds the trophy during the Master Cup tennis tournament crowning ceremony of the year-end No. 1 in Shanghai, China November 13, 2006.[Reuters]

It marks the third consecutive season the Swiss player has finished the year as the ATP world Number one.

On Sunday, Federer came back from one set down to destroy Argentine nemesis David Nalbandian in a blockbuster opening match of the 2006 Tennis Masters Cup.

Federer has been grouped in Red with defending champion and arch rival Nalbandian from Argentina, Croatian number one Ivan Ljubicic, who is arguably the world's best indoor player behind Federer, and big-serving 2006 US Open finalist Andy Roddick of America.

Federer will face Roddick in a replay of the US Open final on Tuesday while Ljubicic will play Nalbandian.