Guillernmo Garcia-Lopez shook off back, leg and adductor pain to upset Rafael Nadal's bid for a seventh title of the season, bringing the world number one back to earth 2-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 to reach the final of the Thailand Open Saturday, reported dpa.
Nadal missed on 24 of a massive 26 break chances against the number 53 who owns just one career title from 2009.
The all-Spanish showdown was a disappointment for Nadal, playing for the first of three weeks in Asia and wildly popular at his long- awaited Bangkok debut.
"I had hope of reaching another final and maybe winning another title," said the holder of six this season including three of the four Grand Slams. "But this is sport, it was not my day.
"You have to do better than that on so many chances. He played better than I did today. This is a tough loss to take," "
Garcia-Lopez wore himself out this week in both singles and doubles and feared for his conditioning in the Sunday final at the Impact arena with Jarkko Nieminen.
The 60th-ranked Finn, a three-time Bangkok semi-finalist, finally took it a step further with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat of German Benjamin Becker.
Nadal looked in control as Garcia-Lopez was treated while stretched out on court early in the second set. But a winning tiebreaker from the challenger and an inspired final set made the winning difference in just under three hours.
"I'm still in shock from this win," said Garcia-Lopez. "I've never beaten a number one, and especially not Nadal.
"This has to be my greatest win. I know he had a lot of chances, but I stayed in the match. I was somehow able to play my game.'
Nieminen played his last final in January 2009, losing in Sydney to Argentine David Nalbandian.
Nieminen stands 1-8 in ATP finals, winning his lone title nearly five years ago in Auckland.
Victory over Becker was total for Nieminen, who never faced a break point, breaking once in the opening set and twice in the second against an increasingly frustrated German, losing 2007 finalist.
Nieminen now stands 13-4 in Bangkok and 21-22 on the season.