Nadal beats Verdasco in straight sets into US Open semis
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Top seed Rafael Nadal toppled Fernando Verdasco in straight sets to reach the last four of US Open here on Thursday though he allowed the sole break of this year's tournament.
It did not take long for Nadal to put a slightly slow start behind him and move one step closer to the only Grand Slam title he hasn't won.
Nadal put the match under his control by returning breaks twice in the first set and once in the next two sets apiece to edge out fellow Spaniard Verdasco 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.
Nadal's streak of 62 consecutive holds of serve ended, allowing Verdasco to break him at love to go ahead 2-1.
Nadal broke back in the eighth game thanks to Verdasco's two double faults. The eighth seed's first double fault delivered Nadal the advantage in deuce, then followed up with another double fault for serve break, levelling 4-4.
Nadal refused a tiebreak by breaking his opponent again in love at the 12th game, wrapping up the first set 7-5.
Nadal pulled off another break at the sixth game of second set. Verdasco tried to save a a much angled drive, but to see the return shot wide and trail the top seed 2-4. Nadal ended the second set in 6-3.
Nadal continued his dominance at the third set, breaking Verdasco's first serve and held on to win the set 6-4.
Nadal wouldn't face another break point the rest of the match, though, and won the last 13 points he served in the second set.
"It's very tough to play under such conditions," Nadal said of the wind. "You need to serve well and focus on the match, keep moving around all the time."
"He (Verdasco) is very tough and it's a tough match, so I'm feeling great to reach the semifinal."
Now Nadal is headed to a third consecutive semifinal at Flushing Meadows. Nadal never has reached a final in New York, losing in the semifinals to Andy Murray in 2008, and to eventual champion Juan Martin del Potro in 2009.
On Saturday, Nadal, trying to complete a career Grand Slam at age 24 by earning a US Open trophy to put alongside the eight total he owns from the French Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open, will face 12th-seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia for a spot in the final.
In an early match, gritty Youzhny reached the semifinals through a five-set epic victory over Switzerland's darkhorse Stanislas Wawrinka.
The 12th seeded Russian played with patience and consistence, dismissing Wawrinka in 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in four hours' blustery fight.
Number 2 Roger Federer will face Number 3 Novak Djokovic in Saturday's other semifinal; they won their quarterfinals Wednesday.
Federer owns a record 16 Grand Slam titles, including five at the U.S. Open, and has faced Nadal in finals at the other three major tournaments.
Nadal has won his last 19 Grand Slam matches, including titles in 2010 at the French Open and Wimbledon.
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