Re-crowned world No.1 Rafael Nadal can smash the record for Masters titles in a year in Shanghai this week, as great rival Roger Federer fights to save his season.
Nadal has enjoyed one of the best spells of his career, coming back from career-threatening injury to win two major titles, but is still seeking further accolades.
After replacing Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings - despite losing to the Serb in Sunday's China Open final - Nadal can become the first man to win six Masters trophies in the same season.
And the Spaniard is also targeting the coveted title of year-end world No.1.
"If I am able to be number one at the end of the season, then that's an important achievement because I will be the best of the year.
"That's something that really motivates me."
Since returning after seven months out with a left knee injury, Nadal has won 10 titles, including the French and US opens.
Until Sunday's loss to Djokovic, he had been unbeaten since his early exit at Wimbledon.
Second seed Nadal equalled Djokovic's record of five Masters titles in a season by winning at Cincinnati in August. He has twice been year-end world No.1 - in 2008 and 2010.
Federer has endured a wretched season by his standards and risks missing out on next month's season-ending World Tour Finals in London.
He has won the event, featuring the year's top eight players, a record six times. But Federer has claimed just one title this year and did not reach a grand slam final.
The Swiss is slated to meet defending champion and top seed Djokovic in the quarter-finals but fist must get past Australian Lleyton Hewitt or Italy's Andreas Seppi.
"It is always a tough draw here because it is always such a strong tournament," said fifth seed Federer.
"It's a difficult first match for me," he added. "It would be great to play Lleyton. We go back a long way and I remember playing him in Shanghai when the first Masters Cup was here.
"He beat me in the semi-finals and went on to win the tournament. We have had some amazing matches."
Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray have guaranteed their spots for the London Finals, but the Scot is expected to skip the event after back surgery.
Other contenders are David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych, Japan Open winner Juan Martin del Potro, Stanislas Wawrinka, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Milos Raonic, forcing Federer to look nervously over his shoulder.
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