HOUSTON, United States (AFP) - Attitude adjustments will be crucial for Lleyton Hewitt, Marat Safin and Andy Roddick here this week at the ATP Masters Cup as they compete to become world number one Roger Federer's top challenger.
None of them can catch the Swiss triple Grand Slam champion in the year-end rankings, but all three could conclude the season second by winning the 3.7 million-dollar showdown of the year's eight top players that opens Monday.
Australia's third-ranked Hewitt plans to put his passion on display. Russia's fourth-rated Safin is working on anger management and second-ranked American Andy Roddick has adopted a relaxed attitude.
Such differing strategies could launch one of them into a starring role at January's Australian Open.
Federer defeated Safin in this year's Aussie final. Safin slumped after that but bounced back to win at Beijing in September, Madrid in October and Paris earlier this month, a recovery he credits to control of his often fiery temper.
"I'm trying to control it. That's why I'm starting to win matches, because I'm able to control it," Safin said.
Safin's anger analysis is less aboutg personal development than it is about finding a way to win.
"I'm not deep in psychology. I just like to win," Safin said. "If I have to shut up and keep quiet inside to win, that's what I'll do."
Hewitt is taking the absolute opposite approach, giving himself over to his emotions and enjoying the freedom of not having to chase for the top ranking.
"I don't have to be under the pressure to finish the year as number one. I can go out and enjoy myself," Hewitt said. "I just worry about going out there and being myself. I just get pumped up and show some enthusiasm out there."
Hewitt went 65-16 this year and won titles at Washington, Long Island, Sydney and Rotterdam. But the 23-year-old from Adelaide was ousted by the eventual champion in all four Grand Slam events.
Federer beat Hewitt in the fourth round at Australia, the Wimbledon quarter-finals and the US Open final as well as a Hamburg semi-final while Argentina's Gaston Gaudio ousted him in the French Open quarter-finals.
Hewitt, the 2001 and 2002 Masters Cup winner, was a Paris quarter-final loser to Safin. But the speedy Aussie takes some comfort from a solid effort.
"Even though I lost to Marat in the quarter-finals, it was more like a final there. Hopefully that will hold me in good stead," Hewitt said. "I've performed well in Masters Cups in the past and I look forward to a good week here."
Roddick, 2003's year-end number one, just plans to take whatever comes as he prepares for a rest. Since they are in differing groups, he might not even face Federer here.
"I'll go out and give it my best shot and maybe walk away surprising a few people," Roddick said. "I'm not worried about Roger. If I get him out there, fine, but I have Tim Henman on Tuesday and that's what I'm worried about."
11/15/2004 - 05:21 GMT - AFP