Qualifier Ricardas Berankis reached the first final of his ATP career with a 7-5, 6-1 defeat of Australian sixth seed Marinko Matosevic at the Los Angeles Open.
Berankis, a former world junior champion from Lithuania, will play either two-time champion and second seed Sam Querrey or Rajeev Ram, both of the US.
Berankis waited for his moment against Matosevic, breaking the seed in the 11th game of the opening set from a forehand error.
A game later, after 45 minutes of battle, the 22-year-old youngster had the set in his pocket. That momentum opened the floodgates as the first qualifier to reach a Los Angeles final since 2009 tightened his grip with a 5-1 lead.
Berankis clinched his record-setting victory a game later on the second of three match points, ending with 18 winners and four breaks of his Australian opponent.