• US Open, Day 13

Gritty Nadal shrugs aside Murray to reach US Open final

Rafael Nadal's power proved too much for Andy Murray © Getty Images

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Andy Murray's search for a first grand slam will continue into 2012 after the British No. 1 was beaten in four tough sets by Rafael Nadal in their US Open semi-final.

In reaching the last four, Murray joined an elite band of seven players to have reached the semi-finals of all four grand slams in a calendar year. But finding his way into a final proved a bridge too far as he found Nadal too strong - with the Spaniard winning 6-4 6-2 3-6 6-2.

Murray was not without chances, as he rallied superbly to take the third set and had Nadal rattled in the fourth - only to surrender his serve in weak fashion which allowed the world No. 2 to close out the victory.

Nadal came out determined to impose himself on Murray and hit a couple of big forehands, but Murray produced some high-class serving to hold.

In three of his first four service games, the second of which lasted eight minutes, Murray found himself 0-30 down. Nadal did not find the blistering strokes that he did from the outset of his quarter final against Andy Roddick, but he played his way into the contest and broke through in the seventh game.

A brilliant lob opened the door, a slack forehand from Murray forced it wider and a deep forehand that drew the error allowed the Spaniard to barge through.

Nadal's forehand cranked into gear as the opening set developed and he flashed a scorching shot down the line to help him hold serve and take the set.

The Spaniard has played his way into the tournament quite superbly. His win over Roddick was arguably his finest performance of the year and he looked confident in his gameplan against Murray.

Murray had break points at the start of the second set and had a look at second serves. Nadal, though, steeled himself and came through an eight-minute game.

Murray's head dropped after failing to break through and promptly produced a slack service game. A sizzling backhand pass from Nadal worked the break point and he was given a huge helping hand to convert when Murray threw a volley two feet wide.

Nadal flexed his muscles yet further in the second set when crafting a double break of serve. He traded groundstrokes with Murray for what seemed an age before suddenly shifting into counter-attack mode with a driven forehand down the line.

A love hold moved Nadal two sets to the good, but Murray came out fighting at the start of third and a blistering point in which he won a baseline battle earned him a break of serve.

The one thing Murray could not afford to do was drop his serve. He duly dropped his serve immediately after breaking, with his first double fault of the match and a shocking backhand allowing Nadal to get back on track.

Murray's level was much improved in the third set and a brilliant series of points enabled him to break Nadal for a second time to lead 5-3. And on this occasion Murray did not surrender his advantage and he served out to cut the deficit.

Confidence started to run through Murray and Nadal had to come through a 10-minute service hold in the third game of the fourth set as the Brit peppered him with crunching drives from the baseline.

Nadal's mental and physical resolve in holding serve reaped its reward in the following game, as he broke through in another game that lasted almost ten minutes. Murray passed up game points when netting two makeable forehands and the unforced errors crept in, as a double fault handed Nadal the break point and he then threw a forehand way over the baseline.

The world No. 2 secured the cushion of a three-game lead when holding for 4-1. Murray staved off three break points to go down a double break but it failed to spark a revival as Nadal closed out the match to set up a meeting with Novak Djokovic in Monday's final.

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