Dudi Sela upset fourth seed Andy Roddick 6-4, 7-6 to reach the men’s singles quarter-finals at Queens.
Sela, who has slipped to 63 in the ATP rankings, has had a dreadful year so far but suddenly came good on the grass against the world's No. 7 player. Sela will play German veteran Rainer Schuettler (82) in the last eight.
Early in the game against Roddick, Sela, seeded 14 in the tournament, broke the former world number one's serve at 1-1 and hung on with some powerful tennis to win the first set 6-4. The second set was even closer going all the way to 6-6 without a break of serve before Sela clinched the tie-break and the match 10-8.
Sela said: "I didn't serve that well but when the points started form the back of the court, I knew I was better than him. He didn't play his best today and that gave me a chance. I had nothing to lose today so I just fought."
Sela has only previously played Roddick once, losing in the final of the Shanghai Grand Prix two years ago.
There was no indication of Sela's sensational form earlier in the week at Queens when he struggled to get past Australia's Chris Guccione in the first round 6-7, 7-6, 6-4. In the second round he beat Luxembourg's Gilles Muller (208) 7-5, 6-2.
Sela's performance at Queens bodes well for Wimbledon which begins June 21.
To get more from Life, click here to sign up for our free Life newsletter.