Relive how Nadal beat Del Potro to reach US Open final

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Juan Martin del Potro has long since trudged off back stage.

The Argentine was out-foxed by Rafael Nadal's change of tack and let down by his weary muscles but he can be very proud of his US Open campaign.

He beat Roger Federer, Dominic Thiem and Robert Bautista Agut - all top 15 players - on his way to the last four.

This run should move him up to 24th in the rankings from 28, ensuring him a slightly easier run at future events.

Rafael Nadal: "It means a lot. It has been an amazing season of course after a couple with injures and troubles you know? To be back here in front of this amazing crowd, on this amazing court and to have the chance to fight for another title is so important to me.

"I changed a couple of things after the first set. I was playing too much to his backhand and I knew that I had change and move him more and be more unpredictable. It worked really well and I am very happy.

"When the rounds are coming, you know you have won a few matchs and you have confidence and know you are playing well. The last three matches have been very positive and this one was the best.

"It will be very tough against Kevin. He has an unbelievable serve and is a great example for the kids in the way he has come back from injury. I have known him since we were 12 so I am very happy for him."

He's not done yet, he is so fired up. He was worried about this match since he saw the draw come out and the relief of coming through this match will be huge.

He's an unstoppable train for the next three and a half months until we get to the Australian Open.

Juan Martin del Potro holds serve to love, but, surely, that was just the death twitch before Rafael Nadal puts him out of his misery.

Rafael Nadal comes over all old-school with some big serve-volley that carries him to 30-0.

Del Potro plonks a backhand into the top of the net as he attempts to go down the line.

Nadal slashes wide as he attempts to finish with a flourish down the line.

But there was plenty in the budget to cover that.

Nadal slam-dunks away the smash to move within a game of the final.

A double fault from Juan Martin del Potro sends Rafael Nadal across to the other side of the court with a 0-30 lead.

A Delpo forehand flies off the leash and long and three break points that are as good as a free pass to the final.

The Argentine bets the house down the line...and misses.

Nadal a double break clear and surely over the horizon and far away.

Rafael Nadal is straining for home.

The Spaniard cleaves down the T to bring up 40-0 and finishes off the rout of Juan Martin del Potro with a massive inside-out forehand.

That is number one of the four service holds that he needs for victory.

Rafael Nadal sniffs blood in the water at 15-30.

Tiggerish enthusiasm as he bounces into a jumping forehand and Del Potro can't deal with the kick.

Two break points for Nadal.

A forehand of laser-like precision that Delpo manages to prod back over, but Nadal finishes the job with a prod down the line as the big man desperately tries to make up the ground.

Anything you can do...

Rafael Nadal shows no sign of loosening the iron grip that he has had on his own serve.

A love hold.

Feel those tremours? That is a flat-lining Juan Martin del Potro jump-starting into life.

The Argentine races to 40-0 with clubbing forehands to the fore.

There is definitely more vim and zip in those groundstrokes than we have seen in the last couple of set.

Another ripper right out the centre, seals the game to 15.

Nadal is winning the war and he's cracked the code too by keeping Del Potro guessing which side he's going to hit to. He's had a few drop shots to surprise Del Potro too and he's not let up for a second.

I thought he was going to go for a comfort break but his coach Carlos Moya seemed to suggest he should stay there and finish it off.

Nadal cannot be stopped - he's like a computer hacker who is just refusing to stop typing.

Daniel: Tiredness has caught up with Del Potro, it looks more emotional than physical though. If anyone knows how to dig deep, it's him.

A dogfight of a game, both players wafting errors off both wings.

Juan Martin del Potro rouses his troops in the stands with a whopper of a forehand in the opening point and Rafael Nadal flaps a backhand into the top of the net for 30-30 to breathe on the embers.

But Del Potro's backhand is smothered by the net. Set point.

Nadal hammers the smash into the surface and out of bounds!

A triple fist pump and Del Potro's resistance might be broken for good.

Rafael Nadal duffs a too-clever-by-half drop-shot into the top of the net with Juan Martin del Potro having given up the point and all the time in the world in his back pocket.

The crowd are gaping like goldfish with surprise.

Del Potro takes advantage and holds.

Juan Martin del Potro is fighting to keep his nose above the tideline.

He saves one set point at 15-40 with an enormous forehand.

And the second is salvaged via the same method.

A bludgeoned stroke gets him to deuce.

Rafael Nadal is denying Juan Martin del Potro the time and platform to welly that forehand.

It was so potent in the first set, but Nadal seems to have found the remedy.

He is chasing down everything and is making Del Potro feel the lactic burn.

Juan Martin del Potro holds to love to spark a chorus of oles from the rafters.

The big man looks at the rockface of faces around the Arthur Ashe Stadium and wipes the corners of his mouth with a towel.

What is going on in the top six inches? Is there enough there to convince the six feet below to join a long-haul fight once again?