Andy to Take on Fed

Oh what a night. The resumption of the Rafael Nadal v Andy Murray semi-final in the US Open took place on the Arthur Ashe Stadium and a different Rafa Nadal seemed to have come out when the the 3rd set continued with serve with Rafa hardly under threat on his own serve a difference from the night before. The Spanish world number 1 ended up taking that set 6-4 after returning to court 3-2 up and facing a break back point in that 10th game.

The start of the 4th set both players went to 0-30 in each of the the first 5 games. but it was the third at 1-1 that could have been a turning point as Andy had 7 break points on Nadal's serve but each time the Spaniard somehow managed to keep himself in the game, taking it on his third time of asking. Andy then started to serve up too many unforced errors losing his next service game to love with four unforced errors from the Scot. We all did start to wonder if the pervious game now spelt the end of hope for the Scot. However on the next game on his first break back point Andy was back in the match, befo9re holding his serve to take it to 4-3. The next two games went with serve leaving Rafa serving at 4-5 down to stay in the match.

Andy had a lucky netchord on the first point and thte ball dropped in with RAfa unable to do anything about it. then taking the game to deuce Andy came into the net punching away a volley to bring up his first point to take him to a slam final. Then it was Rafa's turn to employ an illtimed. illexecuted drop shot which the Scot easily got to before smashing a forehand drive past Nadal to take on Roger Federer in this evening's final.

Andy was already assured 4th place in today's rankings whatever the outcome of the match but tonight he goes for what may be his first slam. Roger will no doubt be hoping not to go the whole season without winning a Slam. But Andy has beaten Federer in the past indeed he is one of the few players to have the better of their head-to-head record over the former world number one. The way he has played and talked this fortnight Andy belives he can win this tournment. Tonight may be the last night we hark back to 1936 and Fred Perry's win in this tournament as the last British man to win a Grand Slam event.

Even Rafael broke with tradition and posted on his Time's blog after losing beacuse it was our player. Magnanimous in defeat just as he was at the end of the match.

All the Best Andy. All of Scotland and now the bulk of the UK (listening to 6-love-6 last night) are behind you.