Nadal on course for career Slam

World number one Rafael Nadal reached his first US Open final with a comprehensive 6-2 6-3 6-4 win over Russian 12th seed Mikhail Youzhny.

Nadal, bidding to become only the seventh man in history to win a career Grand Slam, will face either five-times champion, and second seed, Roger Federer or third seed Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final.

"To me it's a dream. I'm going to play for the first time in the final here in the biggest centre court in the world," Nadal told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.

"I have tried my best for a lot of years. So now after a lot of work I am here and I'm happy for that."

Both players made a solid start to the match with love service holds but as the first set went on Nadal increasingly made his presence felt.

The world number one, who has lost the past two years at the semi-final stage in New York, made the breakthrough in the fourth game, whipping an off-forehand winner across the court and on to the line after a shorter ball from the Russian.

A slight lapse in concentration in the next game from Nadal saw him squander a 40-0 lead and handed Youzhny a look at the immediate break back,

But despite the Russian earning himself a break back point with a deft backhand drop shot, Nadal saved it with a great serve before going on to hold and consolidate his lead.

From there the set rarely looked in doubt and Nadal went on to break for a second time, in the eighth game, with a dipping cross court passing shot winner sealing the set for the Spaniard at the second attempt.

Youzhny made a better job of sticking with Nadal in the second set but the Spaniard, who took an injury timeout whilst leading 3-2 to have his left ankle re-strapped, never really looked severely tested as he cruised through on serve.

The Spaniard did just what was needed as he lifted his level imperceptibly in the eighth game, breaking with an off-forehand across court that Youzhny could only return long.

And, despite Nadal dropping the first point behind of his next service game with a poor forehand drop shot that Youzhny easily got up to, the Spaniard easily served out the second set in the very next game.

Nadal continued his complete dominance through into the third set and when the 24-year-old broke in just the third game the Russian's challenge looked as good as over, a nervy inside out forehand error from Youzhny conceding the game.

There was late drama to come, however, as Youzhny broke back with Nadal just two games away from the win.

A slack game from the Spaniard handed Youzhny a break back point and the relaxed Russian grabbed the opportunity with both hands, working Nadal around the baseline before firing a smash winner down the line.

But a clearly irritated Nadal did not pick up 41 career titles without being able to bounce back from disappointment, and he broke back immediately when Youzhny buckled under the pressure and slapped a series of errors.

And Nadal made no mistake the second time around, serving out the match to love with his much improved serve out wide once again doing the damage as Youzhny sent his return into the net.