Eighth-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero was denied his ATP Tour-leading fifth title of the year when he was beaten in the finals of the Tennis Masters Series event in Hamburg by qualifier Albert Portas.

The unseeded Portas - a 66/1 outsider at the start of the week - claimed his first career title in his first final of the year with a dramatic and lengthy 4-6 6-2 0-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 victory over his fellow Spaniard to claim the first prize at this French Open tune-up.

Portas' two previous final appearances also were on clay - Barcelona in 1997 and San Marino in 1999.

He is only the second qualifer to win a Tennis Masters Series event, joining Roberto Carretero (1996, also in Hamburg).

The 21-year-old Ferrero, nicknamed "the Mosquito" and one of the favorites for the upcoming French Open, had shown no signs of slowing down after outlasting world number Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil in five sets last Sunday in Rome but his winning streak ended at 16 matches in this final.

Ferrero captured his first four career titles this season, also winning in Dubai, Estoril and Barcelona.

He was attempting to become the sixth player to win the Rome and Hamburg titles in the same year, an achievement which has only been reached by Jaroslav Drobny (1950), Lew Hoad (1956), Rod Laver (1962), Marty Mulligan (1963) and Manuel Orantes (1972).

But he handed Portas victory, when serving to stay in the match, he overhit two shots from 30-30 to give Portas the title.