World No 1 Rafael Nadal remains on track for his first US Open title after booking his place in the semi-finals after defeating eighth-seeded Spanish compatriot Fernando Verdasco.
Nadal, who has now stretched his grand slam winning streak to 19 matches, dominated the quarterfinal to win 7-5 6-3 6-4 on another windy night at Flushing Meadows.
It is the 24-year-old’s third consecutive US Open semi-finals.
“For now it’s a very nice feeling to be in semi-finals for third time in a row in one of the most important tournaments of the world,” The BBC quoted Nadal, as saying.
“I have to keep playing better if I want to win the final. It’s a great thing for me, especially without losing a set,” he added.
Nadal will now play Russian 12th seed Mikhail Youzhny, who beat Swiss 25th seed Stanislas Wawrinka 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 3-6 6-3, 6-3.