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    The 25th-ranked Argentine who a year ago stood third in the world, prevented Federer from lifting his seventh trophy of the season and 15th career Masters Cup shield.

     "I'm extremely contented to beat the world number one of the world," said Nalbandian, who climbed into the stands to greet his box in victory.

    "Roger and I have a long history and I think that influenced the match."

     The loss was another heartbreak for the Swiss, whose last defeat indoors came against the South American in the Masters Cup final in Shanghai in November, 2005.

     Since then, Federer had beaten his toughest rival four times, and had claimed eight of their last nine matches.

     The Argentine winner took his first trophy since Estoril in May, 2006.

      Nalbandian also becomes the third man in 14 years to defeat the top three players in the world - Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, in this case - in the same event.

      Djokovic did it as he won Montreal in August and Boris Becker was first to achieve the feat in 1994 Stockholm.

     Federer still leads the ATP on six titles this season but suffered a seventh loss of 2007 against 58 wins.

     As the match slid away from him, Federer was broken for the first time this week. "He was a better player all in all," said the Swiss. "I was struggling after the first set to play aggressive for some reason.

     "He played tough and didn't miss any more. I couldn't play way I wanted to. It was a pity, he played a great tournament."

      Federer swept the opening set in less than 30 minutes but began to fade after falling to 0-2 in the second.

      That set was interrupted in the fourth game - Federer eventually managed to hold to love - as a malfunctioning hose used to water courtside greenery was repaired for five long minutes.

      "He served well, I was quite surprised with how well he served," said Federer. "He came back strong and played well in the end.

      "I couldn't come back, he made that hard for me. After the first set I had no easy points and never felt I had much of a chance,

      "I tried to hang in but he was too tough today."

       Federer remains in slim 8-6 command of the series, beating Nalbandian in the Madrid semis a year ago.

       "It was an extremely hard set," said Nalbandian of the first. "But I tightened the teeth and I began to play more strongly.

       "Things came out fine, Today I played incredible, and that of course that helps."

        Nalbandian has turned around his game after hiring Argentine Hernan Gumy, former coach of Marat Safin in July after spending a year without a mentor on the ATP.