Nadal outguns Berrettini to reach US Open final once more

Matteo Berrettini threw everything in his arsenal at Rafael Nadal, and it still wasn't enough.

The 18-time Grand Slam champion advanced to his fifth US Open final on Friday night, beating the heavy-hitting Italian 7-6 (6), 6-4, 6-1 in an entertaining encounter at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Nadal saved two set points in the opening-set tiebreaker, his trademark resilience coming to the fore as he battled back to grab the early advantage.

Berrettini, who was appearing in his first career major semifinal, was firing on all cylinders early, but that missed opportunity was too much to overcome.

Nadal broke the 23-year-old's serve midway through the second set, finally converting on his 10th break opportunity in the match. The No. 2 seed ultimately wore down the Rome native, and when he broke Berrettini's serve again to open the third set, the result was beyond doubt.

Nadal, who has lost just a single set in New York, will now meet burgeoning Russian Daniil Medvedev in Sunday's final.

The Spaniard will be looking to capture his fourth US Open title; a victory would give him 19 Grand Slams overall, leaving him just one shy of Roger Federer's men's singles record.