U.S. Open: Rafael Nadal joins Novak Djokovic in finals

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Defending champion Rafael Nadal earned his way into the U.S. Open men’s championship match on Monday with a 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 win over fourth-seeded Andy Murray on Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Nadal beat Murray for the fifth consecutive time and for the third straight time in a Grand Slam semifinal. Nadal will play top-seeded Novak Djokovic in the finals here for the second straight year. Djokovic eliminated third-seeded Roger Federer earlier Saturday in a five-set match.

Murray had 55 unforced errors to only 23 from Nadal in the 3 hour 24 minute match that ended Saturday’s day session at the Open at 9:10 p.m. Eastern time.

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-- Diane Pucin, reporting from New York