The Sun

Rafa Nadal KO's Andy Murray's US Open dream in semi-final

ANDY MURRAY completed an agonising set of Grand Slam near-misses as Rafa Nadal ground

him down in the US Open semi-final.

British No 1 Murray has now bowed out at the last-four stage of three Slams this season, as

well as losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final.

And a remorseless Nadal, winner by 6-4 6-2 3-6 6-2, should be buoyant for Monday's

showdown against world No 1 Djokovic, who survived a five-set rollercoaster against Roger

Federer.

Nadal said: "Andy had a tougher game than me yesterday and this was the best I've played this

year."

And Murray admitted: "I was disappointed with myself in the first two sets. There are many

things I could have done a bit better tonight.

"But the toughest thing when you are out there is that he's probably the greatest player who's

ever played tennis."

Murray, though, appeared to lack a master-plan and possibly belief as the Spaniard won the

first two sets with a swagger worthy of his searing ground-shots.

But Scot Murray improved dramatically in a high-class clash to take the third set 6-3 with more

aggressive play - the first set Nadal has lost at New York this year.

And Murray seemed on top early in the fourth set, too, nearly breaking Nadal at 1-1.

But Murray then lost a careless sevice game and suddenly found himself 4-1 adrift.

He conjured a scintillating recovery from love-40 when he next served, partly thanks to some

typically brilliant retrieving.

But Nadal's awesome consistency and forehand range saw him+ home as he broke Murray to

love two games later.