INQUIRER Sports

NEW YORK -- World number one Rafael Nadal advanced to his first US Open semi-final with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory over American Mardy Fish early Thursday morning at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The reigning Wimbledon, French Open and Olympic champion from Spain will face British sixth seed Andy Murray in Saturday's semifinals of the year's last Grand Slam tennis tournament. Nadal has a 5-0 record against Murray.

Nadal could match Rod Laver, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer as the only men to win three Slam titles in a row in the 40-year Open era.

Saturday's other semifinal pairing will be decided later Thursday when four-time defending champion Federer meets Luxembourg qualifier Gilles Muller and Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic faces US eighth seed Andy Roddick.