US Open, Flushing Meadows
Dates: 30 August - 12 September Start time: 1600 BST
Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles; updates on BBC Radio 5 live; live on Sky Sports

Youzhny finally produced the goods to see off a battle-weary Wawrinka

Mikhail Youzhny reached his second US Open semi-final following an epic five-set victory over Stanislas Wawrinka at a blustery Flushing Meadows.

The 12th seed took over four hours to defeat 27th seed Wawrinka 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 3-6 6-3 6-3 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Youzhny will play Rafael Nadal in the last four after the Spaniard beat Fernando Verdasco in the night match.

The Russian also reached the semis in 2006, when he lost to Andy Roddick in four sets.

"It was tough conditions and of course you understand you can beat him; you also understand he can beat you, because it's close match," said Youzhny.

"I just try to play every point. I try not to think about you can do it or not. But, you know, after one-all in sets it was like another match, and both players can win."

I think I give everything today, and I try, I try, for sure. I made some big mistakes, but after four hours you're really tired Stanislas Wawrinka

Having beaten Tommy Robredo and John Isner in his previous two matches, Youzhny faced another tough opponent in Wawrinka, with whom he shared a 2-2 head-to-head record.

But tellingly, both of the 28-year-old Russian's victories had been on hard courts - the last coming earlier this year at the Miami Masters.

Youzhny made the ideal start when he broke Wawrinka in his very first service game, but the Swiss immediately hit back and then made the decisive break of the opening set in the eighth game as Youzhny's usually reliable backhand faltered.

However, just as in the first set, Youzhny once again broke his opponent's serve in his opening service game of the second set only for a double-fault at break point to hand the initiative back to Wawrinka.

The next eight games went with service, forcing a second-set tie-break, and Youzhny eventually converted his fourth set point to level the match.

Moments later, he once again surrendered the initiative with a poor opening service game in the third set, allowing Wawrinka to open up a 3-0 lead before the Swiss hit his 11th ace of the afternoon to seal the set.

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But despite his inconsistencies, Youzhny refused to capitulate and in a mirror image of events in the third set, he took a 3-0 lead in the fourth after breaking Wawrinka's opening service game.

Wawrinka's movement became increasingly laboured around the court as Youzhny levelled the match on the three-hour mark to set up an intriguing final-set decider.

Once again there was a break in the first game as Wawrinka wilted under pressure, but the Swiss player levelled the match by immediately breaking back in the next game.

A lengthy medical timeout then followed as Youzhny received treatment to his toe but the delay seemed to have its desired effect as the Russian broke for the second time for a 3-2 lead.

With Wawrinka's resolve finally fading, Youzhny clinched the match as he broke his opponent's serve for the third time in the set.

"I think I give everything today, and I try, I try, for sure," said Wawrinka. "I made some big mistakes, but after four hours you're really tired. I was tired.

"If I go back, I'm very pleased with the tournament. I know especially against Andy Murray was I think my best match, and I was playing really, really strong."

Earlier on Arthur Ashe, top-seeded pair Liezel Huber and Bob Bryan won their second Grand Slam title in mixed doubles following a 6-4 6-4 win over Kveta Peschke and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi.

Bryan will face Qureshi again in the men's doubles final on Friday, teaming up with twin brother Mike, while Qureshi plays alongside India's Rohan Bopanna.

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