Britain's Andy Murray advanced to his first Grand Slam final by stunning the world number one Rafael Nadal in the US Open semi-final, booking a date with reigning champion Roger Federer. The 21-year-old Scotsman defeated the reigning Wimbledon, French Open and Olympic champion 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-4 in a match that began Saturday but was concluded the next day after being halted by rain in the third set.
"I'm delighted to be in my first Slam final," Murray said. "I'm delighted I won against a guy who has played as well as him. He is the best player in the world this year. He has played great tennis." The showdown with the 12-time Grand Slam champion Federer was pushed to today, the first time since 1987 that bad weather has postponed the year's last Grand Slam tournament to an extra day. Murray became only the third British man to reach a Grand Slam final in the 40-year Open era, after Greg Rusedski in the 1997 US Open and John Lloyd at the 1977 Australian Open, and would be the first to win a title by beating Federer.
"He's probably the greatest player ever," Murray said of Federer. "To get the chance to play against him in a Slam final is an honour. I've played well against him in the past. Hopefully I can do the same again." Murray owns a 2-1 lead over Federer in their career rivalry, losing their first meeting 6-3, 7-5 at the 2005 Bangkok final but winning 7-5, 6-4 at Cincinnati in 2006 and 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-4 in Dubai six months ago.
Nadal carried a 19-match Grand Slam win streak into his first US Open semi-final against a foe he had beaten in all five of their prior meetings, taking 11 sets in a row off Murray before Saturday. Sixth seed Murray will rise to fourth in the next rankings, matching Tim Henman and Rusedski for the top ranking ever achieved by a British man. *AFP
