Federer set for final as Murray, Nadal wait

NEW YORK (AFP) - Roger Federer moved within one victory of his fifth consecutive US Open title Saturday, firing 20 aces to overpower Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.

But the Swiss superstar will have to wait until Monday to try and capture his 13th Grand Slam title and move within one of the all-time record total of Pete Sampras.

In a rematch of last year's final, second seed Federer stretched his US Open win streak to 33 matches but rain stopped the other semi-final between world number one Rafael Nadal and British sixth seed Andy Murray.

The 21-year-old Scotsman led 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 2-3 when his first Slam semi-final was halted until Sunday afternoon, pushing the men's final to Monday afternoon, the first time since 1987 that the Grand Slam event will end late.

"Winning here at the Open would mean a hell of a lot to me," Federer said.

"At the moment the focus is to defend my title and get my fifth. The Pete thing is very much alive and everything is possible, but I would like to focus on the five in a row right now."

Olympic champion Nadal defeated Federer in this year's French Open and Wimbledon finals and the Spanish left-hander replaced him atop the rankings last month, ending a Federer reign of 237 weeks.

"If I win it's great and I'm back in the race and things aren't so bad like everyone is saying," Federer said. "A win would be huge."