RAFAEL NADAL aims to crush Andy Murray for a sixth successive time by running him into the ground.

The world No1, winner of the French Open, Wimbledon and Olympic titles this year, reached the last four of the US Open with a 6-2 5-7 7-6 6-3 win over Mardy Fish — a match which did not finish yesterday until the early hours.

Nadal, like Murray set to play his first US semi-final, said: “I know I have to play well and get at him. I must keep up my rhythm.

“He runs a lot and I know I must make him tired. I must keep up the intensity.

“I think I did well in the Wimbledon quarter-finals. It was my best match against him.

“Andy is confident and knows what it takes to win big matches.”