Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of Rafael Nadal's quarter-final against Fernando Verdasco!

WINNER! Verdasco finally wins a point against Nadal's first serve in this third set - at the 15th attempt - with an inch-perfect lob for 15-15. He just can't keep his foot on the gas, though, and another forehand into the net (his 40th unforced error of the night) brings up two match points. On cue, Verdasco lashes the ball into the net on the final point, and sends Nadal comfortably through to complete

Nadal produces a quite ridiculous pirouetting forehand half-volley early in the game, but Verdasco ultimately holds quite comfortably as Nadal sends a forehand long. Nadal to serve for the match...

Nadal hits a peach of a forehand drop-shot for 30-0, before seeing Verdasco hit a frustrated forehand long behind the baseline. The eighth-seed slams a forehand right into the corner, which Nadal loops back just over the net. Verdasco slams it crosscourt on the angle, and Nadal somehow gets it back over the net to seal the game! Incredible point.

He's still plugging away though, Verdasco, picking up a third service game with a massive serve of his own, and with Nadal struggling to produce the magic of his earlier breaks. He gets a slice of luck at 30-15, as another forehand clips the net and lands out of Nadal's reach, but it's a deserved hold none-the-less.

Nadal moves to within two games of victory with another hammer blow of a serve. He's first serve is currently 66% for the match - extraordinary in the swirling wind - and he's winning 84% of points on that first serve. A dominant performance, and Verdasco just can't move him around enough to put him under pressure.

Verdasco finds himself 3-15 down, but produces the perfect angle on his backhand volley, that even Nadal refuses to chase down. The eighth-seed uses the momentum to lift him to another hold of serve, forcing Nadal onto the back foot and refusing to allow the world number one to dictate play. If he could only do that on Nadal's serve, he'd have half a chance of springing a surprise in this set!

A netted forehand from Verdasco at the baseline gifts Nadal a hold to 15 and, and moves the top-seed another step closer to taking the third set and the match.

Verdasco avoids the dreaded bagel with a much-needed hold of serve, but it's all about Nadal at the moment. The world number one has hit 14 winners to 15 errors, a staggering statistic given the conditions.

Verdasco has a real go at Nadal's serve, but still comes up short against some exceptional movement from Nadal. Verdasco lands a high defensive lob onto the baseline at game point, which Nadal smashes into the corner. Verdasco somehow reaches it, but Nadal's follow up drop-shot is just too good. Another hold for Nadal, who is getting better and better.

BREAK! Verdasco goes for a Federer-esque hot dog shot, but it clips the net and hands Nadal two break-points. Nadal keeps the ball high with a kicking forehand on the second break-point, and Verdasco sends the return a yard over the baseline. Could be all over already on Arthur Ashe

SET! It is! Nadal seals the game and the set with a stunning inside-out forehand, whipped low over the net and landing right onto the sideline. He's covering so much ground at the moment, the Spaniard, that Verdasco is struggling to get the ball past him. Another comfortable set from the would-be champion. Can Verdasco force a repeat of his fourth-round match with David Ferrer and launch a comeback? We're about to find out: set three is on the way!

Verdasco manages the hold, despite a ninth error of the set, but it could be too little too late for the eighth-seed.

Another Verdasco slice flies out in the breeze, and his hopes for this set are following it. Nadal secures another love game, with Verdasco putting up precious little resistance.

BREAK! Verdasco gets a huge slice of luck at 30-15, catching the net with a low forehand and seeing the ball drop onto Nadal's side of the court. The top-seed just gets to it, but Verdasco slams the ball back crosscourt for the winner and two game points. Nadal gets some luck of his own with a fluked return, and then sees another Verdasco forehand drop into the net for deuce. Nadal imposes himself from deuce, and seals a break against both Verdasco and the wind!

Rapid hold to love from Nadal, with a thunderous forehand on the run for the penultimate shot of the game. Verdasco is looking less and less of a threat against serve as the set goes on, will the eighth-seed find himself two sets to love down for the second consecutive game at this year's US Open?

Verdasco drives Nadal out wide and forces an error on the top-seed's forehand, for a 30-0 lead, before playing some wonderful sideline to sideline groundstrokes from the baseline to seal another comfortable hold to 15.

Sensational hold from Nadal, producing a spectacular forehand winner, whipped down the line to seal another service game to 15. Neither man looks like making a breakthrough at the moment but - as ever with the world number one - you get the impression that Nadal is just biding his time..

Equally comfortable for Verdasco, however, seeing Nadal drop a slice into the tramlines for 40-15, and forehand a yard behind the baseline.

Simple service game for Nadal to start the second set, dropping a single point with a wild forehand

SET! Oh dear. Verdasco does everything right at 0-15, driving Nadal back into the corner and advancing to the net for an easy smash. It might've been the wind, it could even have been the lights, but there's no real excuse for Verdasco's poor effort, sending the ball wildly into the crowd off the frame of the racquet. He limply sprays the ball out to gift Nadal three break points, which the world number one converts first time with some delicate but devastating net-play.