'I'm tired, but it was a good week for me,' said the first-time finalist, son of Australian player Syd Ball.

'I never thought I'd get to the final. I was just thinking about winning the qualie matches, one at a time. I had some luck this week. It was great to play a fellow Southern California buddy, also.'

On fire since Wimbledon, Querrey is now 13-2 over the last month. He is the first US player to reach at least three ATP finals in a row since Andy Roddick advanced to four straight from June 7-Aug 1, 2004.

Ball, 22, was the fifth qualifier to reach an ATP final in 2009 but was unable to equal the feat in Gstaad against Tomaz Bellucci, who won that Swiss clay title Sunday.

Ball is the first Australian to play the LA final since Lleyton Hewitt six years ago.

Querry's ranking will rise to around the top 30, putting him in good position for the US Open seeding of his dreams.

'My goal is to go deep in a Grand Slam or a Masters,' he said. 'The way I'm playing now, at least that's possible.'