Murray upsets Nadal in U.S. Open semis

Sep 8, 2008 - 12:46 AM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- It was worth the wait for Andy Murray.

The sixth-seeded Scot upset top-seeded Rafael Nadal, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4, in the U.S. Open semifinals on Sunday to reach his first Grand Slam championship.

Murray's victory was two days in the making as Tropical Storm Hanna forced the suspension of the match Saturday, with the 21-year-old ahead, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 2-3.

"I'm relieved," said Murray, who had never been beyond the quarterfinals of a major prior to this event. "To comeback after being two sets up, it was tough to sleep on that, so I'm glad I was able to come through."

If Murray is able to come through against Federer on Monday afternoon, he will become the first player from Great Britain to win a major since Fred Perry captured this hardcourt tournament in 1936.

"(Federer) is probably the greatest player ever so getting the chance to play him in a Grand Slam final is an honor," said Murray, who is 2-1 career against the Swiss superstar. "But I've played well against him in the past and hopefully I can again tomorrow."

The upset denied Nadal his first appearance in a U.S. Open final and derailed what many observers thought was an inevitable rematch with Federer, who lost the French Open and Wimbledon championships to the talented Spaniard earlier this year.

"I accept losses with the same calm when I win," Nadal said. "So am I disappointed? Yes. But at the same time, I am happy because I reached the semifinals here."

Nadal, who ripped the No. 1 ranking away from Federer last month, has won an ATP-best eight titles this season and came into the match with Murray having won 54 of his last 56 matches.

The wear-and-tear of the long season appeared to finally catch up with the 22-year-old at Flushing Meadows.

"Well it wasn't the best moment (to have a bad match), because it was a semifinal of the U.S. Open - but at the same time, it's never a good time," Nadal said.

Nadal appeared weary at times during Saturday's action, though he looked more like the player who had won his last 19 Grand Slam matches when play resumed Sunday.

After closing out the third set on serve, Nadal forged a 3-1 lead in the fourth, impressively staving off seven break points during a lengthy second game.

The set - and perhaps the match - nearly got away from Murray as he fell behind 30-0 in the following service game, but the six-time champion regrouped to hold serve and win the next three games on the way to an eventual 5-4 lead.

Though he only managed to convert on four of 20 break chances, Murray secured the biggest one in the final game - charging the net to return a drop shot and sending the match-clinching winner past a drawn-in Nadal.

"He played well," Nadal said. "I had my chance in the fourth, I didn't convert. He beat me, just congratulate him."

Murray, guaranteed to become the new world No. 4 on Monday, had failed to beat Nadal in their five previous encounters.

The loss also ended Nadal's bid to become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows in the same year.

Monday's championship is scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT. First prize is $1.5 million.