The British No.1, aiming to end the season on a winning note in the prestigious Hanover tournament, failed to take his chances and was finally undone in a thrilling deciding set by the clay-court specialist.

Moya's 6-4 3-6 7-5 victory takes him into Sunday's final, where he will meet compatriot Alex Corretja, who saved three match points to secure a shock success over world No.1 Pete Sampras.

Service off target again

Henman struggled with his serve early on, as he had done in Friday's defeat by Greg Rusedski, and Moya was able to capitalise by taking the first set 6-4.

The Briton managed to save two break points in the third game of the match, clinching the game with a superb backhand cross-court pass.

But in the seventh game Moya made his move. Henman had two game points to lead 4-3, but he missed them both, double faulting on the second, and the Spaniard reached break point with a fizzing forehand return.

Moya then forced Henman to hit a forehand over the baseline to take the decisive break before comfortably serving out his next two games to wrap up the set.

But with World Championship exit now a distinct possibility, Henman hit back.

Despite making too many unforced errors on his forehand, he took the second set to level the match.

The vital game was the second of the set where Henman broke Moya for the first time in the match.

After missing two break points he made no mistake with his third chance, as he forced Moya to put a forehand volley into the net to lead 2-0.

Moya's returns proved too strong for Henman

He went to 3-0 with a love service game and then, leading 4-1, had two more break points in the sixth game. But Henman missed them both with forehand errors and was in trouble himself in the seventh game.

Here he double faulted twice running to go 0-40 but he battled back in emphatic fashion to hold for 5-2.

Henman, now looking far more confident, served out to win the set 6-3.

Tim takes final set lead

And with Moya beginning to take on a despondent air, Henman pounced in the first game of the deciding set.

Facing two break points against him, Moya flashed a straightforward forehand approach shot into the net to give Henman a vital break.

And despite some scares in a prolonged second game which went to duece, Henman hung on to hold his serve and move 2-0 up.

But any hopes Henman had of cruising to victory were dashed in the fifth game when Moya broke back.

Henman was presented with another chance at 4-4, but Moya saved the break point with a pinpoint cross-court and won the game for a 5-4 lead.

The pair traded games until the 12th when Henman was serving to stay in the match.

Henman's first serve again faltered and a whipped backhand brought up two match points for Moya.

The Spaniard then fired a superb forehand return which left Henman stranded and brought him a 6-4 3-6 7-5 victory.

Sampras stunned by Spaniard

Corretja set up a clash with Moya with a 4-6 6-3 7-6 victory over hot favourite Sampras.

The American made a fine start, breaking his opponent to go 3-2 up before taking the first set with a service winner.

Corretja, one of the few Spaniards to feel at ease not only on clay but also on fast indoor courts, took Sampras's serve to move 3-1 ahead before winning the second set.

The third set was tight and both players had already dropped serve once when Sampras, leading 6-5, earned three match points.

But he squandered all three to allow his opponent back into the contest.