Top-seeded American Andy Roddick was outgunned 7-6, 6-3 by Swede Robin Soederling after a battle of big-serving in the Memphis Championship quarter-finals on Friday.
Soederling, the eighth seed, trumped the American's 15 aces by unleashing 16 of his own to seal victory in one hour and 25 minutes in an explosive match on the Stadium Court.
"We both served well and it was fun to play against him," Soederling told reporters after his first meeting with Roddick. "This is probably my favourite court on tour. I am serving great and I have no complaints at all."
Roddick predicted Soederling would now win the tournament.
"I thought if I would have gotten through that match, I've had a good chance of going the whole way," said Roddick, who never held a break opportunity.
"I certainly think he's going to go all the way."
Soederling will next face fourth-seed Radek Stepanek after the Czech beat Australian Chris Guccione 7-6 6-1.
Steve Darcis of Belgium fired down nine aces to crush Germany's Benjamin Becker 6-1 6-0 in the first quarter-final of the day.
The 23-year-old from Liege will face ATP Tour veteran Jonas Bjorkman in the last four, the Swede having battled past American Donald Young 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 in a two-hour contest.
In the women's draw, teenager Olga Govortsova of Belarus upset third-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to reach her first WTA final.
The 19-year-old fifth seed shrugged off four double faults to scrape through a tight semi-final in just under two hours and book a place in the title match with fourth-seeded Lindsay Davenport.
Former world number one Davenport, competing in her first WTA event on US soil in two years, hammered New Zealand qualifier Marina Erakovic 6-0, 6-3 in less than an hour.
FIRST FINAL
"It feels great, getting into my first final," Govortsova told reporters. "I am playing really well now and in the third set I wanted to win so badly.
Govortsova beat Peer, then ranked 18th in the world, at Stanford last year to achieve her first victory over a top-20 player.
"Now I have beaten her again so I have confidence against her," the Pinsk native added with a smile. "But she is a good player and it's hard to beat her."
Davenport, who returned to the court last September after an 11-month absence to have a baby, was delighted to reach the final.
"I was expected to win every match so to come through and perform is great," the 31-year-old American said.
"Getting to another final is very exciting, especially being in the United States. I feel I am playing well and have earned the right to be here in the final.
"I felt really good about everything today. If I get through a match without losing my serve and I still feel good hitting my groundies (groundstrokes), I am happy with the result."