David Nalbandian of Argentina kisses the winner's trophy after defeating world number one Roger Federer of Switzerland at the Tennis Masters Cup tournament held in Shanghai yesterday. (Xinhua photo)

Argentina's David Nalbandian came through a thrilling five-set victory against world number one Roger Federer here on Sunday to claim his ever first year-ending title at the ATP tennis Masters Cup.

The 23-year-old lay down his back on the floor of the Qi Zhong Stadium's central court after wrapping up the final 6-7 (4), 6-7(11), 6-2, 6-1, 7-6(3) in four hours and 34 minutes and coming out the first winner from Argentina in 31 years.

"Of course (this is the best moment of my career). I think it's more important the way that I win," said Nalbandian at a post-match news conference.

"It's really incredible, these kind of matches in the finals against the No. 1 of the world. He didn't lose many matches during the year. So it's really important."

"I feel like the better guy won today. He was better, way better, in the third and fourth and fifth," commented Federer.

"I always say the winner deserves it more than the loser, even though I don't feel like a loser at all, because the season was sogreat. The match I played today and the whole tournament I playedis for me still a great satisfaction.

"But He did well and deserves to win, no question about it."

With the victory, Nalbandian, last qualifying for the 4.45 million US dollars event on a world rank of 12th after Andy Roddick decided to skip the tournament due to a back injury, snapped a 35-match winning streak of Federer who has taken in six titles including two grand slam titles with the straight wins since June.

David Nalbandian (left) and Roger Federer (right) play in the Tennis Masters Final.(Photo: Sina) 

Limping on an injured right foot, Federer managed tie-break wins from both of the first two sets, but obviously ran out of energy before forcing a tie-break in the decisive fifth set, whichthe 24-year-old Swiss lost after forehanding the ball under the net.

Being broken in as earlier as the first game of the best-of-five final, a very longest match during this week's season-ending event in Shanghai, Federer was pulled into tie-breakas each of the players broke twice.

He luckily took the first set after a serving out of bound was mistakenly ruled an ace and a returning from the superlative Swissrolled over the net to keep live.

Same tune sounded in the second set. Trailing 4-1 in the second tiebreaker, Federer held his nerve to make a 5-1 run and overtook the lead 6-5 before winning it 13-11.

"Both sets was very, very close. Some important points he had a little bit of lucky sometimes. The way that he win the first set, with the net...And then the second set was almost the same, alot of set point for both, very close," said Nalbandian, referringto the first two sets taken by Federer.

"But I know that he wasn't hundred percent for the ankle, his preparation wasn't the perfect one."

"I feel in the beginning of the third when he play not so good,that I had my chance in there. I had to keep going, to keep fighting, and play the most important match that I do during the year.

"I left everything on court."

Yes, fortune has yet accompanied the Swiss all the time. Burning out his energy reserved in some breezy wins in former matches, Federer gave up the third and fourth set in ease, respectively 6-2, 6-1.

Further down 4-0 in the fifth and decisive set, the top seed launched a successful fighting back from the fifth game, took fourgames in a row and broke his Argentine opponent thrice to force tie-break, before a better Nalbandian cost him a third Masters title in straight.

"I came much closer than I ever thought. I would come to this tournament victory," said Federer. "But it was unfortunate in theend. I cannot believe myself I came back in the fifth, but somehow I did."

"There's sort of also pride in there, of course, because three weeks ago I was still on crutches. No to be back playing at the best level, I'm very happy about that."

Federer, losing ten games in a row with cracking nine aces and 63 winners against 8 double faults and 72 unforced errors, won 41 net points out of 62 plays, but just converted 6 out of 20 breaking points into efforts.

"I don't know how many games I lost in a row at that point, butI knew I needed a good start into the fifth set or the fourth set,but I couldn't because I was just not physically good enough prepared for this event," said Federer.

"Those first two sets took too long, too much out of me. I couldn't push up for my serves in the end any more. That caused me that bad start in the fifth set, too."

Nalbandian won 2 aces against 6 double faults, made efforts of 11 out of 14 breaking points, and took a total of 66 winners against 57 unforced errors.

If Federer went through the final as a winner, he should have tied John McEnroe's Open Era record for best match winning percentage in a season. McEnroe had a 82-3 mark in 1984, and Federer held his own on 81-3 into Sunday's final.

The last second breakdown from the world No. 1 beat everything back into dust.

Before Saturday's 6-0, 6-0 semifinal win over Argentina's Gaston Gaudio, the two-time defending champion Federer had kept inlow as he was pulled into deciders in his Red Group opener against12th-ranked David Nalbandian on Sunday and was even forced tiebreaker when facing the world No. 7 Ivan Ljubicic on Tuesday.

But the effects of the ankle ligament injury kept hurting Federer's playing. After American veteran Andre Agassi and secondseed Rafael Nadal pulled out due to injuries on Monday, Federer has been left the only top-five player in the elite field.

The Shanghai tournament was the first in six weeks for the superlative Swiss, who has already clinched the world No. 1 year-end ranking for the second year in succession. He last competed in Bangkok, winning his 11th title of the season on October 2.