In-form Spaniard Fernando Verdasco dumped world number two Novak Djokovic out of the Rome Masters, winning their quarter-final 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-4.
It was a gruelling encounter which ended after three hours and 18 minutes when Verdasco fired down an ace to book his place in the last four.
"The match could have gone either way - it was decided by one or two points," said Serbia's Djokovic.
Four-time winner Rafael Nadal plays Stanislas Wawrinka later on Friday.
Clay-court specialist Verdasco has reached the final of his last two events - he lost to Nadal at the Monte Carlo Masters before going on to win last week's Barcelona Open.
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He will now face compatriot David Ferrer, who beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 6-1.
The other quarter-final sees Latvia's Ernests Gulbis, who beat world number one Roger Federer earlier in the tournament, face Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.
Meanwhile, Federer's Rome exploits came to an end when he exited the doubles, along with Swiss Davis Cup team-mate Yves Allegro, following a 6-4 6-4 loss to American pair John Isner and Sam Querrey.
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