NEW YORK, USA (AP) — Defending champion Rafael Nadal overwhelmed Andy Roddick in straight sets to ease into the US Open semi-finals yesterday.

Whipping passing shots from all angles and returning superbly, the number two-seeded Nadal beat number 21 Roddick 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 to reach the last four at Flushing Meadows for the fourth consecutive year.

Nadal compiled a stunning 22-0 edge in forehand winners and broke Roddick six times.

Nadal took the first four games against the 2003 US Open champion, thanks to two service breaks in the opening 18 minutes, then took 16 of the last 17 points to close the second set. In the third set, Roddick had both of his legs massaged by a trainer during a medical timeout.

In today’s semi-finals, Nadal will face nnumber four Andy Murray.

Murray advanced after turning back the challenge of big-serving American John Isner 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2).

The 24-year-old Scot became just the seventh man in the Open Era to reach the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams in the same season, a day after world number one Novak Djokovic accomplished the same feat.

Murray, who is vying to become the first British man since 1936 to win a Grand Slam title, faces a tough challange against defending champion Nadal.

Nadal beat the Brit in the semi-finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year, but Murray — winner of the ATP Masters title in Cincinnati in August — said he thinks he can contend on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts.

“I think on the American hard courts I think it’s a close matchup,” he said.