Top-seeded Rafael Nadal put a slow start behind him before beating No. 8 Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 Thursday night in the first all-Spanish quarterfinal in U.S. Open history.
Nadal's streak of 62 consecutive holds of serve to start the tournament ended in the match's third game, when Verdasco broke him at love to go ahead 2-1.
But Nadal broke back to get to 4-all, thanks to Verdasco's consecutive double-faults, and was on his way to a third consecutive semifinal at Flushing Meadows. Nadal, trying to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the U.S. Open for the first time, will face No. 12 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia on Saturday.