Nadal wins late match to meet Murray in U.S. Open semifinal

Nadal wins late match to meet Murray in U.S. Open semifinal

Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to Mardy Fish during men's singles quarterfinals of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, the United States, Sept. 3, 2008. Nadal won the match 3-1 and advanced to the semifinals.(Xinhua Photo)


NEW YORK, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- World number one Rafael Nadal came from one set down to defeat American Mardy Fish 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 early Thursday morning, reaching the semifinals of the U.S. Open for the first time.

The 22-year-old Spaniard closed the two-hour-and-40-minute match at 2:10 in the morning and thanked the fans who stayed to the end of a day full of long matches.

"I'm very happy for being the first time in the semifinals of the US Open," Nadal said. "Mardy played very well in the first set, served unbelievably well."


Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after men's singles quarterfinals of the U.S. Open tennis tournament against Mardy Fish of the United States in New York, the United States, Sept. 3, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)


Nadal, who is seeking three Grand Slam titles in a row following French Open and Wimbledon Open success, will face British sixth seed Andy Murray in Saturday's semifinals of the year's last Grand Slam tournament.

Murray reached his first Grand Slam semifinal with a 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 7-5 victory over Argentina's 19-year-old Juan Martin Del Potro.

Saturday's other semifinal pairing will be decided later Thursday when four-time defending champion Federer meets Luxembourg qualifier Gilles Muller and Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic faces U.S. eighth seed Andy Roddick.


Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to Mardy Fish during men's singles quarterfinals of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, the United States, Sept. 3, 2008. Nadal won the match 3-1 and advanced to the semifinals. (Xinhua Photo)