Hewitt and Agassi fight for No 1 slot

The weekly grind of the ATP Tour reaches its climax with the Masters Cup, which begins today in Shanghai.

Most of the focus will be on Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi as the pair continue to battle it out for the honour of finishing 2002 as world No 1. Hewitt heads to China with an 88-point lead in the Champions Race and is favourite to reclaim the top place that he took for the first time after winning the corresponding event in Sydney last year.

The 21-year-old admits that he is drained and has just had a two-week break after playing Marat Safin in the final of the Paris Masters. "If I wasn't playing for No 1, chances are I wouldn't have come," he said.

Indian Wells will not be on Serena and Venus Williams' schedules next season following the racial abuse the sisters say they received at the tournament two years ago.

"I would like to play where people like to see me play," said Serena after reaching the final of the WTA Championships with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Jennifer Capriati in Los Angeles on Sunday. "I did have a couple of fans out there [Indian Wells] but I think the vast majority of them didn't like me out there."

Venus Williams retired from her semi-final with Kim Clijsters because of a leg injury. The Belgian was due to meet Serena in the final last night.