• US Open - Men's Draw

Nadal powers past Youzhny to reach first US Open final

Rafael Nadal was in supreme form against Mikhail Youzhny © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Djokovic stuns Federer to set up Nadal showdown
  
• News: Nadal feeling ready to end US Open wait
  
• News: Djokovic out to spoil the party
  
• News: Nadal wins Spanish derby
  
• Profile: Rafael Nadal | Mikhail Youzhny
• Gallery: US Open Day 13

Day 13 Gallery

Rafael Nadal reached the final of the US Open for the first time with a straight sets victory over Russia's Mikhail Youzhny.

The world No. 1 has eight Grand Slam titles to his name but has never before managed to progress past the semi-final stage in New York.

A win in the final on Sunday would see Nadal become only the seventh man to claim a Career Grand Slam, and he put himself in the running to claim the honour with a 6-2 6-3 6-4 victory in a little over two hours.

Youzhny, who upset Nadal in four sets at the quarter-final stage in New York four years ago, battled valiantly but was unable to find a way past a dominant Nadal.

Despite starting strongly, Youzhny soon found himself a break point down, and a typical looping forehand from Nadal was inch-perfect, and despite an appeal from the Russian, Nadal secured his first break.

However, Youzhny refused to lay down and responded immediately, battling back from 0-40 down on the Nadal serve to earn his first break point, pushing Nadal hard before the Spaniard clung on to hold serve. Another break of serve came in the final game of the set, and a fantastic cross-court winner from Nadal sealed the opening set.

It was more of the same from Nadal in the second and third sets, and Youzhny was forced to endure a barrage of shots, defending well but ultimately had no answer to a player who was full of energy and creativity.

Youzhny looked to have found a way back into the third set when he finally broke serve to claw his way back to 4-4, but Nadal responded immediately with a break before serving out to love to seal his place in Sunday's final.

"For me it's a dream, I'm going to play the first time in the final in the biggest centre court in the world," Nadal said. "Right now, after a lot of work I am here and very happy.

"I played aggressive, my serve is working well during all the tournament and maybe he was a bit tighter than me because he played longer matches than me during the week."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.