Roger Federer stormed into his fifth successive US Open final on Saturday but his challenger will not be known for another 24 hours after heavy rain washed away the rest of the day's play at Flushing Meadows. The four-time champion was in sublime form during a 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Novak Djokovic and can now enjoy an extra day of rest since world number one Rafael Nadal and British sixth seed Andy Murray were foiled by the bad weather. Murray was in the driver's seat to book a date with the Swiss, leading Nadal 6-2, 7-6, 2-3, when play in the second semifinal was suspended by rain. The women's final, scheduled for Saturday night between twice champion Serena Williams and second seed Jelena Jankovic, was postponed until Sunday night as the remnants of Tropical Storm Hanna tossed the last weekend of the Open into disarray. Nadal and Murray will resume their semifinal on Sunday at 2000 GMT, and American Williams and Jankovic will joust for the women's crown five hours later. The men's final is scheduled to start at 2100 GMT on Monday. Organizers gave up hope of finishing the second semi-final or staging the women's title match as the weather forecast called for hours of showers. Because of the threatening weather, the matches were staged concurrently with four-times champion Federer facing Australian Open winner Djokovic at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and Nadal-Murray raging at adjacent Louis Armstrong. The second semifinal, however, was started one hour 40 minutes after Federer and Djokovic's began, providing no chance of completing both as it turned out. Tournament director Jim Curley told reporters that organisers had been told the window of playable weather would last until about 5.00 P.M. (2100). Play for the day was halted at 2.48 P.M. Federer took advantage of his time on court by producing his best performance of the tournament, hammering home 20 aces and ripping 51 winners in an emphatic two hour 45 minute victory over the third-seeded Serb. The Swiss master, owner of 12 Grand Slam crowns yet thirsting for his first of 2008, was still on track to become the first man to win five successive Opens since Bill Tilden in 1924. “Who do I prefer to play? I prefer the trophy, that's what I prefer,” said Federer, deposed as world number one last month by Nadal after more than 4-1/2 years at the top spot. “But I guess I would have to say Rafa because we've had such great battles over the year. Wimbledon was unbelievable so I hope we can have another one.” Federer's wish did not look likely to be granted as Murray belted his way to a two-set advantage across the National Tennis Center plaza at the Armstrong stadium. Nadal had not lost to the Scot in five previous meetings but the 21-year-old Briton was on song, displaying the form that had led him to three hard court titles this year. Serving masterfully and dominating play from the baseline with his deeper groundstrokes, Murray swept through the first set in just over half an hour before clinching the second 7-5 in a tiebreak, racking up 44 winners along the way. Nadal, however, broke Murray in the opening game of the third set to seize an early advantage as the Wimbledon and French Open winner battled to reach his first final here. The Spaniard was darling of the crowd at the cosier Armstrong Stadium, which once held centre court for the tournament before the towering Ashe Stadium opened in 1997. At the start, the 10,000-seat stadium was only one-quarter full for the Nadal-Murray tilt while the 23,000-seat Ashe stadium was packed full of fans. After Federer clinched his final berth, spectators crowded in while others unable to get a seat lined the lip at the top row of Arthur Ashe Stadium to peer down on the second semifinal. - Reuters __
