South Korean qualifier Lee-Hyung-taik stunned world number four Juan Carlos Ferrero 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 on Saturday to win the men's singles final at the Sydney International, the last big warm-up event for next week's Australian Open.
In one of the biggest upsets ever seen in the tournament, which began in 1885 as the New South Wales Open, the little-known Korean survived a match-point to capture his first title since turning professional in 1995.
It was also the first ATP Tour title won by any Korean.
"I still can't believe it," Lee said, speaking through a translator.
"Winning in Sydney gives me a lot of pride and confidence and I've learned a lot of things this week."
Belgium's Kim Clijsters won the women's crown, beating former world number one Lindsay Davenport 6-4, 6-3 in the final.
Second seed Clijsters, one of the favourites for the Australian Open, captured her 11th singles title and her first in Sydney with her 19th win from her past 20 matches.
'PLAYING WELL'
"I'm feeling confident and I'm playing well but it doesn't mean you're going to well in the big tournaments," said the Belgian.
"One day you can play unbelievable tennis and then the next day, there's so many things can go wrong."
Davenport finished runner-up in Sydney for the fifth time in six final appearances but said she was unconcerned by the result.
The former world number one underwent knee surgery exactly a year ago on Saturday and was pleased just to be playing again.
"I've won enough titles not to worry about where the next one is coming from," Davenport said.
"There's always some disappointment when you don't win a final but I never really felt like I played well enough to have a chance.
"I'd certainly love to break through and start winning some of these titles but it's not going to happen the way I played today so I'm going to have to keep fighting and keep plugging away."
POTATO FARMER
The son of a Korean potato farmer, Lee had to play three qualifying matches within 48 hours of arriving in Australia just to qualify for the tournament.
His gruelling schedule looked to have finally caught up with him when Ferrero snatched the first set but the 27-year-old clawed his way back to win two tiebreakers and save a match point in the final set.
Lee had squandered two match points to lose to the Spaniard in their only previous meeting -- at the same venue during the Sydney Olympics -- but this time held his nerve to avenge that defeat.
In a seesawing match lasting more than two-and-a-half hours, both players had their chances to win and at times both looked like losing.
Ferrero broke Lee's opening service game to take the first set in 39 minutes, but dropped serve for the only time in the match at the start of the second.
Lee, playing in only his second ATP Tour final, led 5-2 in the second and served for the set at 5-3 before a string of errors allowed Ferrero to break back.
Ferrero, 22, saved seven set points at various stages of the second set to level the tiebreaker at 6-6 only to concede the set two points later when he sent a forehand sailing over the baseline after Lee had aced him.
The French Open finalist seemed to have regained control when he broke Lee's first service game of the deciding set only to hand the break back with a double-fault in the fifth game.
Ferrero held a match point on Lee's serve in the 12th game but the Korean saved it to force the tiebreaker, which he eventually won 7-4, throwing his arms up in triumph.
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