He is the first American since Andy Roddick in 2004 to achieve that feat.

'I've been playing a lot of matches recently,' said Querrey, holding a career-best 32nd ranking and a loser in title bids at Newport and Indianapolis in recent weeks.

'The more matches you win, the better the confidence. I've been doing a lot of running on the track, 200 (metres), 400 (meters), that is starting to pay off. It may also help that I've been feeling pretty hyper on court.'

Ball, ranked 205 with a ranking set to rise to around 120 should he win the title, is playing this week for the first time at the ATP level and could not be more pleased with his surprise showing.

'Just to get that far and play a final is a plus,' said the son of 1974 Australian Open doubles finalist Syd Ball. 'Win or lose, playing in a final is what we all work for.'

'I'll be pleased to go out there. I'm not thinking about the ranking points or the money,' said the player, who admitted he almost pulled out of the qualifying round after re-tweaking his back.

But making a daily two-hour commute from his parent's home in Newport Beach, 80 kilometres south, Ball decided to take treatment at the tournament and try his luck.