Andy Murray and Gilles Simon will meet in the final.

Resilient Simon upset Nadal 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (6), and the fourth-ranked Murray beat Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to prevent what would have been the fifth Nadal-Federer final this season.

Once Federer lost in the earlier match, Nadal was guaranteed to be the first Spanish player in the Open era to end the year as No1.

Simon will attempt to win his fourth title in 2008 thanks to excellent shot-making during the final set, which was marked by long rallies and replay challenges including the final point, when Hawkeyeconfirmed Nadal's shot sailed long.

Simon saved 17 break point chances including seven in the third set in a match that lasted nearly 312 hours.

''I'm playing a great, great player and I don't want to miss that so I fight for every point,'' a visibly drained Simon said.

''When you play against Rafa in Madrid, that's not easy.''

The 16th-ranked Simon, who will jump to No10 on Monday, won at Bucharest, Casablanca andIndianapolis earlier this year.

He beat Federer at Toronto in August to be the first to register wins over two top-ranked players in the same year since Rainer Schuettler triumphed over Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick in 2003.

Simon had saved match points against three of his previous four opponents, but the Frenchman's powerful, low groundstrokes troubled the Nadal enough that he didn't have to do it a fourth time.

''I was a little unlucky today.

''I had some mistakes with the backhand, which didn't help,'' Nadal said. ''But I'm not surprised.

''He's playing very well and with great confidence.''

Nadal broke the tiring Simon in the sixth game before also dropping serve. Simon broke again in the 11th when one of Nadal's 55 unforced errors sailed wide, but he rallied to force the tie-breaker.

The Spaniard jumped to a 3-1 lead before Simon rattled off four points. Nadal saved two match points but the momentum was with Simon, whose win ensured the tournament would crown a new winner for the seventh straight year.