Argentine David Nalbandian proved too tough for Andy Roddick on Friday, beating the Australian Open top seed 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 at a warm-up event three days before the start of the opening Grand Slam of the season.
World number one Roddick clambered his way back from 5-1 down in the final set only for Nalbandian to rediscover the unerring backhand which had allowed him to stretch into that lead, and finish the American off.
Nalbandian, runner-up at Wimbledon in 2002, ruined the Kooyong International promoters' hopes of a dream final.
He, not Roddick, will now meet Australian Open champion Andre Agassi in Saturday's title showdown.
The three-set defeat in hot, sunny conditions was not ideal Open preparation for Roddick, who earlier on Friday was drawn against another baseliner, Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, in the first round of next week's slam.
"I got the better of him [Nalbandian] pretty easily the first times we played...but he is tough, he exploits my weaknesses pretty well and handles my power," Roddick told reporters.
GREAT FEEL
"He does a lot of things which, while not spectacular, work well. He is not number eight in the world for no reason.
"He doesn't have a whole lot of weaknesses. He has a great feel for the game, it makes him tough."
However, Roddick said he would put the defeat behind him and take the positives of this week to Melbourne Park.
"Even win or lose this week, you want to get the feel of competitive matches again...get back in the trenches...so this has been good.
"You know, it is not a crisis. I am not uber [over] worried."
Nalbandian does not know his Australian Open opponent yet, he was drawn against a qualifier, but knows he has no need to be worried.
"That was a really tough match," he said after beating the U.S. Open champion.
"I really enjoyed it. A match like this is very good for me with the Australian Open next week."
