This was the 26-year-old's career best and the best result a Slovenian has ever achieved in an ATP tournament.

The 70th-ranked Žemlja made it to today's final after a convincing victory Saturday over 2nd seeded Janko Tipsarević from Serbia.

Qualifier Žemlja beat his way to the final by upsetting a number of remarkable players, including 8th seeded Xavier Malisse from Belgium, Australia's Matthew Ebden and 3rd seeded Tommy Haas from Germany in the quarter-final.

Žemlja could not hide his delight after bagging the best result in his career so far.

"You said it was my first time to the finals. Well, let me add it was my first time in the quarter-finals and the semi-finals as well," he said right after the match, drawing cheers from the crowd.

"The first seven games were at a very high level, and the opponent gave me the opportunity to dictate the tempo and I felt I was a step ahead. But then he started playing better while I perhaps made more mistakes. In the remaining games, I fought for every point but couldn't turn the match around. Now I will have to remain calm and return back to work," Žemlja told the STA after the finals, hopeful of further points.