Hello and welcome to this semi-final clash between world number one Rafael Nadal and Russian 12th seed Mikhail Youzhny

So Nadal remains on course to complete his career Grand Slam with a place in his first US Open final, where he will face the winner between five-times champion Roger Federer and third seed Novak Djokovic, who are on court next

WINNER! Nadal races out to three match points. But one is all it takes as the world number one reaches his first US Open final with that much improved first serve out wide again proving too much for Youzhny as he returns the ball into the net

BREAK! A third ace of the match from Youzhny gets him out of a spot of potential bother at 15-30 down before a fifth double fault hands Nadal an immediate break back point. The chance goes begging when a solid serve out wide that the Spaniard can only return into the net but Youzhny misses an easy high backhand volley into the net to gift Nadal a second chance. And this time Nadal gets it when Youzhny hits a backhand wide down the line. Nadal will serve for the match

BREAK! Well, well. Nadal slaps a forehand into the top of the tape to hand Youzhny a break back point. And the Russian grabs the opportunity with both hands, working Nadal around the baseline before firing a smash winner down the line. We're back on serve in this third set. Does Youzhny have something left in him yet?

Youzhny has hit a whopping 10 unforced errors in this set alone, compared to five from Nadal, but despite that he keeps the pressure vaguely on Nadal with another service hold

Another comfortable service hold for Nadal and he is just doing enough now to get himself through and preserve his energy for what is bound to be a tough final tomorrow irrespective of whether he faces Federer or Djokovic

Much better from Youzhny as he comfortably holds to 15 to keep the deficit down to just the one break in this set. The Russian's problem though is that he just doesn't seem to have anything to hurt Nadal today

Nadal, bidding to become just the seventh man to win a career Grand Slam, cruises through another service hold to consolidate the break and he is potentially just three games away from the final in New York now

BREAK! Ouch. Youzhny slaps what should have been a fairly straight-forward forehand into the net to hand Nadal an early break point opportunity in this second set. And a nervy inside out forehand from Youzhny into the tramlines hands Nadal the break that surely has him a place in the final. The Spaniard is doing what he does best, forcing Youzhny for to go for too much and sweeping up when the Russian hits the inevitable errors

Nadal's serving this tournament has been incredibly good as he holds once again for the loss of just the one point, levelling up when Youzhny slaps a forehand return well long of the baseline

Youzhny ahead in a set for the first time in this match, holds for the opening game of this third set when Nadal squanders a great chance to put some more pressure on his opponent with a forehand long whilst trailing 40-30

SET! Nadal drops the first point on serve with a poor off-forehand drop shot that Youzhny gets to easily before riffling a forehand passing shot winner down the line. But Nadal quickly recovers to bring up two set points with a second ace of the match. And one is all that's needed as the Spaniard comes up with another heavy first serve down the centre of the court that Youzhny can only return into the net

BREAK! Well hello. Youzhny sends consecutive forehands (one a ground-stroke, the other a volley) long to hand Nadal a 0-30 lead against serve. And the Spaniard pounces, bringing three break points with some terrific defence that eventually hussling Youzhny out of the point and breaking at the second attempt with a cracking off-forehand across court that the Russian can only return well long. Nadal will serve for the second set

A second straight love service game for Nadal as he holds when Youzhny fires a forehand long down the line after a lengthy rally. The Russian is sticking with Nadal much more closely in this second set but you still get the distinct impression that Nadal has another couple of levels to move through should he need it.

Nadal has an injury time-out to have a blister on his left foot seen too and takes the opportunity to have his left ankle re-strapped whilst he's at it. Afterwards, Youzhny appears to be cruising towards a love service game before an explosive forehand return of serve from Nadal followed by a double from the Russian allows the Spaniard back into the game. But Youzhny does recover to hold with a solid first serve that Nadal can only return into the net

Rafa's first ace of the match seals another love service hold as the Spaniard speedily slings all the pressure back over the net at Youzhny. Unfortunately for the Russian you get the impression that it's only a matter of time until Nadal breaks. And apart from that fifth game in the first set, the Spaniard has looked very confident behind his own serve

Nadal is thoroughly unimpressed with himself when he misses a forehand return off a second serve. It lets Youzhny off the hook at 15-30 down but, while Nadal goes on to miss another forehand and hand the Russian a game point, the Spaniard does recover with a much better off-forehand across court to level up at deuce. And, after another couple of deuces, Youzhny does go on to hold and stick with Nadal

Nadal cruises through another solid service hold to 15, finding a great first serve once again and firing off the resulting easy off-forehand across court and into the corner for a winner

Youzhny produces a confidence building forehand drop shot winner after a lengthy rally to earn himself a couple of game points before holding with an ace to get off the mark in this second set. That was an important game for the Russian to keep him mentally in this match

A first double fault of the match lets Youzhny into a game that he otherwise would have been shut out of but Nadal speedily recovers and holds to 15 with a forehand winner. The world number one looks supremely comfortable right now