HOUSTON -- Top-ranked Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi were drawn into different round-robin groups Wednesday for the Tennis Masters Cup, so they can't meet before the semifinals.

And Roddick appears to have the easier road.

Roddick, the U.S. Open champion, is trying to finish a year at No. 1 for the first time. French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero and Wimbledon winner Roger Federer can catch him, though, depending on how the three fare at the hard-court tournament.

Roddick will face Guillermo Coria, Rainer Schuettler and Carlos Moya in round-robin action.

Eight-time major champion Agassi, Ferrero, Federer and David Nalbandian were drawn into the other group. There are three 2003 Grand Slam champions -- Agassi, Ferrero, Federer -- in this group.

The Tennis Masters Cup gathers the top eight men in the world, offering $3.65 million in prize money in singles. After the round-robin matches, the top two players in each group go to the semifinals.

Singles play begins Monday and ends Nov. 16.

Doubles play starts Saturday, with a $750,000 purse. That draw: