Youzhny is Nadal's final obstacle in New York
Spanish top seed Rafael Nadal has to overcome Mikhail Youzhny of Russia on Saturday if he is to reach his first US Open final.
Nadal has gone through this year's tournament without losing a set, overcoming eighth seed Fernando Verdasco in an all-Spanish quarter-final on Thursday.
The world number one enjoyed three weeks' rest this summer after undergoing treatment for a knee injury.
Though the Spaniard prefers to focus on the task at hand rather than looking ahead, Nadal arrived in New York with the intention of reaching the final.
"For me, being in the semi-finals is amazing, but I have to keep going and keep playing better if I want to reach the final," Nadal said after defeating Verdasco. "I know how important the US Open is for me. I know I have to arrive to this tournament fresh if I want to have any chance at a good result."
Wind could get in the way
Thursday was the second day that severe winds interrupted the tennis being played in New York. While the extreme heat that was seen earlier in the week has let up, it's likely that the wind will be present on Saturday as well.
Nadal struggled to cope with the wind in the first set of his quarter-final, but he managed to turn Verdasco's advantage around in the last two sets.
"No one likes to play in these conditions, but at the same time I think that the two most important things are movement and concentration," Nadal said. "And both those things are two of the best about my game."
Despite his confidence, Nadal is wary of the threat posed by Youzhny, who defeated him in four sets in the quarter-finals of the 2006 US Open. Citing that "painful game," Nadal said that Youzhny still poses a threat on the hard court in New York.
"This court adapts very well to his game, so if he is playing very good tennis it will be very difficult to beat him, that's what I can say. I have to play aggressively, because if I lose the court against him it will be very difficult to come back."
Nadal's record stronger
Aside from his victory in 2006, Youzhny has defeated Nadal three times in their 11 meetings since 2004. Nadal has prevailed in the rest of their Grand Slam meetings, though, his most recent victory coming at Wimbledon in 2008.
Youzhny, the tournament's 12th seed, will need his day of rest on Friday as his quarter-final match against Stanislas Wawrinka lasted over four hours.
With the latter stages of any tournament so dependent on individual fitness, it remains to be seen whether the Russian can persevere against Nadal.
Should he progress, Nadal will meet Novak Djokovic or Federer in the final. With most hoping for a final between the Swiss and Nadal on Sunday, Youzhny said he is eager to cause widespread disappointment.
"I'm ready to be bad person. I love to be bad person in this case," he said.
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