TENNIS:Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the world's two leading players, might feel inclined to spend the next couple of days ringing their six fellow contenders for the Tennis Masters Cup beginning in Shanghai next Sunday to make sure that none of them decides to pull out. For any absenteeism would let in Argentina's David Nalbandian, who yesterday underlined that he is currently the most dangerous player on the planet by defeating Nadal 6-4, 6-0 in the final of the Paris Masters.

He thus completed back-to-back Masters titles, the former Wimbledon runner-up having beaten Federer in the Madrid final two weeks ago.

In the Spanish capital Nalbandian had also defeated Nadal in the quarter-finals, dropping only three games, while by the banks of the Seine last week he dispatched Federer in the third round.

It has been astonishing tennis by the 25-year-old who in his previous 15 tournaments this year had managed to reach just one quarter-final.

Nalbandian slipped through the back door as a late reserve for the Tennis Masters Cup two years ago and promptly won it, coming from two sets down in the final against Federer.

On a slow centre court in the Palais Omnisports, Nadal had been expected to have the edge. After all, this city is the Spaniard's second home, the 21-year-old having won three French Open titles in succession at Roland Garros.

This was his first appearance in what used to be called the Paris Indoor Open, and there seemed every likelihood that his unbeaten record in Paris would be maintained but once the score reached 4-4 in the opening set Nalbandian was unstoppable, breaking Nadal's serve four times as he reeled off nine consecutive games.

It is rare for the young Spaniard to be so outclassed, though this was brilliant tennis by Nalbandian who continually found cross-court angles of explosive impudence. The Argentinian was inspired.

Knee and back problems hampered Nalbandian this year right through to the US Open when he finally felt injury-free.

If he could maintain this form then clearly he would become a huge threat in all the slams next year, although the five-set format has frequently been his undoing.

He has always been a great returner; the clear difference over the last few weeks has been the quality of his serve, something he has been working on with his new coach and fellow countryman, Martin Jaite, whom he ran to embrace at the end of yesterday's final.

So, having defeated Federer and Nadal in consecutive tournaments, could he challenge for the number one spot?

"You have to play like this all season on clay, hard, grass and indoors," said Nalbandian. "I think the only guy who can do that is Roger."

"After I broke him (Nadal), I felt I was playing better than him and started hitting winners almost from everywhere, which gave me confidence," Nalbandian added.

Asked if he had experienced a problem, Nadal simply said: "Yes, Nalbandian.

"He was just playing with unbelievable confidence."

Martina Hingis is expected to challenge her positive drug test - despite admitting she does not want to spend years "fighting against doping officials".

Hingis (27) retired last week after revealing she tested positive for cocaine at this year's Wimbledon but the five-time Grand Slam champion denies taking the drug.

When making the announcement in her native Switzerland this week, Hingis suggested she did not want to carry on playing while the allegations were hanging over her, but WTA Tour chief executive Larry Scott still expects her to fight to clear her name.

"There is a bit of a contradiction I read in her statement," said Scott. "Everything that she and her representatives have said to me is that they are going to fight it. There was some suggestion in her statement in Switzerland that she might not have the stomach to fight it and her retirement might signal that she wouldn't fight it.

"I actually believes she will fight it and do everything possible to clear her name."

Hingis believes there could have been an error in process that led to her positive test.