• US Open - Men's Draw

Nadal wins Spanish derby

Mikhail Youzhny performs his unique salute to the crowd © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Nadal powers past Youzhny to reach first US Open final
  
• News: Federer tastes sweet revenge
  
• Profile: Rafael Nadal | Fernando Verdasco | Stanislas Wawrinka | Mikhail Youzhny

Rafael Nadal eased safely into the US Open semi-finals as countryman Fernando Verdasco had no answers to the world No.1 on Thursday night.

The all-Spain affair was nicknamed the 'running of the bulls' and Verdasco was simply stampeded by Nadal, who brushed off the windy conditions to race to a 7-5 6-3 6-4 victory.

The strong gusts of breeze that have defined the tournament were back and Nadal wasn't immune as he dropped his second service game - the first time he was been broken at this year's tournament after 61 successful holds.

Verdasco jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the first set, but that was as close to a sniff of a chance as he got, the top seed completely dominating proceedings.

World No,8 Verdasco simply had nothing in his game to challenge Nadal. All his strengths are shared and exceeded by Nadal, so although he had his moments, the huge crowd in Arthur Ashe Arena sensed an inevitability about the result.

Verdasco's taxing five-set marathon against David Ferrer two days ago can't have helped his hopes of somehow outlasting Nadal, who entertained with a string of winners from both sides and an improvised 360 degree half-volley on his way into the net in the third set.

Mikhail Youzhny is up next for Nadal but it may take the winner of the Federer-Djokovic semi to stop a player in utterly ruthless form.

Stanislas Wawrinka failed to go the distance against Youzhny in Thursday's first quarter-final, twice giving up a set lead to lose 3-6 7-6 3-6 6-3 6-3.

It was a classic five-set performance from Youzhny, hanging tough to stay alive in the match before his physical and mental stamina helped swing momentum in his favour later on.

The Arthur Ashe Stadium was treated to an unsurprisingly tight encounter, with Wawrinka and Youzhny sharing a 2-2 head-to-head record from previous battles. Both of Youzhny's triumphs had come on hard courts, yet it was the Russian who struggled early in the match.

After breaking first, Youzhny immediately relinquished his control to allow Wawrinka to assume control at 5-3, serving out for the set. The Swiss' player's ground strokes were carrying greater conviction, and Wawrinka's higher number of winners proved the difference.

Youzhny, bidding to break into the world's top 10 for the first time in two years with victory, was not about to give up without a fight. The first four games of the second set all went against serve, prompting a tiebreaker, which went the way of the 12th seed as he levelled up the scores.

Youzhny had the greater experience having previously reached the US Open semis in 2006, but it was Wawrinka, contesting his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final, who once again forged ahead in set three. Breaking early, the No. 25 seed did not face a break point as he served out for a 2-1 advantage.

He went to claim the set 6-3 but early in the fourth set he called the trainer to rub down his thigh, which was heavily taped going into the match. The Swiss appeared to tire as Youzhny held firm to claim the set and although Wawrinka produced a burst of energy at the beginning of the decider, he couldn't maintain that level and the lasting image of the match will be the 25th seed destroying his racquet on the court in frustration in the penultimate game.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.