MURRAY BEATS A BURNED-OUT NADAL

Rafael Nadal hunched over, his chest heaving, his hopes of reaching his first U.S. Open final fading fast.

No one ever seems to run Nadal ragged.

Andy Murray managed to do just that.

Exhibiting precisely the sort of winner-vaporizing, opponent-demoralizing defense new No. 1 Nadal usually employs, Murray reached his first Grand Slam final by completing a stunning, rain-interrupted 6-2, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4 upset of the Spaniard on Sunday.