Del Potro in Nadal Demolition

Juan Martin Del Potro reached his first grand slam final as he demolished third seed Rafael Nadal in their US Open semi-final on Sunday.

The sixth seed from Argentina blew Spain's Nadal away at Arthur Ashe Stadium, taking two hours and 20 minutes to win 6-2 6-2 6-2.

Del Potro will now face the winner of tonight's second semi-final between five-time defending champion Roger Federer and fourth seed Novak Djokovic.

The 6ft 6in 20-year-old overpowered the left-hander on both serve and return, and with forehand and backhand, to deny Nadal a crack at completing a career grand slam.

Del Potro won a low-key opening game and both men had break-point opportunities in the next two games but the Argentinian was the one who finally broke the deadlock, putting Nadal under pressure once again in the fourth game.

Nadal, who had not been without chances of his own having earned three break points in the opening set, found himself saving two set points in the eighth game, but Del Potro finally pierced his defences with a huge forehand to complete an excellent first set.

Eight-time Grand Slam winner Nadal could not find an answer to the variety of powerful shots coming at him from all directions and he was soon break point down again, surrendering a 3-1 lead in the second set with a double fault.

Nadal saved four break points to win his second game of the set but at 4-2 down he was looking at a mountain to climb and Del Potro proceeded to take him apart, earning triple set point at 5-2 with a powerful combination of forehand and then backhand winners, the second seed stranded at the back of the court.

Del Potro was looking unstoppable, moving to 3-0 lead in the third set with another booming forehand to win the game to love.

Nadal served to stay in the match at 5-2 down but, despite his famous fighting spirit, Del Potro was too strong and the match was over when a last, desperate forehand was sent long.