Nadal to face Murray in US Open semis

Originally published on: 09/09/11 23:26

Curiously, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick had not met in a Grand Slam event since the 2004 US Open before today – when Roddick defeated Nadal on his way to the quarter-finals – but it was a different story seven years later as the 29-year-old managed just six games against the No. 2 seed.

Just an hour and 53 minutes after it had begun, the match finished at 6:30pm with Nadal serving it out after Roddick had taken a medical time out in the third set to receive attention to his left thigh.

Defending champion Nadal has now reached the semi-finals in New York for the last four years in a row and faces a tough batltle against Andy Murray, who beat him in the last four in 2008, on Saturday.

“Always it is a pleasure to play against Andy, he is one of the players with more talent on the tour,” said Nadal, who leads Murray 12-4 in their 16 previous meetings, including beating him in the semi finals at this year’s Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

The first men’s semi-final on Saturday between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic is scheduled for 12 noon local time (5pm BST, before the Nadal and Murray clash follows afterwards.

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