Should he win the title and go unbeaten through the round-robin phase of the competition, the Scot could bank an impressive £1million but, even so, he is not too bothered by the thought. Sitting in the middle of Shanghai, one of the shopping capitals of the world, he cannot think of a thing to buy.

"There's nothing particularly that I need," he said after considerable thought. "I got a car a few months ago, I have a nice apartment so there's nothing else that I really need, I don't think."

At this stage of the season, money is the last thing on the players' minds. Rafael Nadal turned down the chance to earn £1.81 million when he pulled out of the event with a knee injury and a bad case of battle fatigue.

He could have claimed his share of the bonus pool – a fund to be shared between the world's top four who have competed in all the Masters Series events and the Masters Cup – and the winner's cheque but opted to rest in preparation for the Davis Cup final at the end of the month. Instead, the confrontations at the Masters Cup take on a more personal nature – these are the world's very best players and they are desperate not to show a hint of weakness to their peers.

Murray begins his campaign today against Andy Roddick, the man with the fastest serve in the world. But as Murray has learned over the years, if he can get Roddick's serve back, the American is there for the beating. So far the Scot has emerged the winner in four of six meetings.

"I haven't played him for quite a long time," Murray said, "but each time I have played him, they've always been tight matches, lots of close sets, and a few points here or there changing the outcome because he serves so well, it's so difficult to break him.

"But each time I've played against him I think I've broken him at least once. If he hits a 140mph serve and you do pick it, it's not coming back too often. I've returned well against him most times."

Roddick, meanwhile, is trying to remind people that, along with Roger Federer, he is one of the elder statesmen of the event. This is the sixth time he has qualified for the Masters Cup and while the headlines are being written about the younger men, he is still capable of challenging for the big titles. Yet after a moderate year by his standards – only three minor tournaments won and only one grand slam quarter final reached – he understands just how he has been overshadowed by Murray this year.

"We always knew Andy was going to be a player," Roddick said. "That much was assured. Fitness is big but learning how to manage a five-set match is also big. I remember from early in my career that you get so over-excited that by the fourth set your nerves have taken so much out of you that you're struggling a little bit. So I'm sure it's a combination of the two.

"As far as forehands and backhands and tennis IQ are concerned, he's up there with anybody. I think for the rest of the players, it was probably just a matter of time with Andy."

And as Murray has proved himself to be the man of the moment since reaching the US Open final, it may be a matter of quite some time1 before Roddick gets the chance to steal the limelight from him.