NEW YORK --- It did not take long for Rafael Nadal to put a slightly slow start behind him and move one step closer to the only Grand Slam title he hasn't won.
The top-seed got his serve in gear after being broken for the only time in five matches, and beat No. 8 Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 Thursday night in the first all-Spanish quarterfinal in U.S. Open history.
Nadal's streak of 62 consecutive holds of serve ended in Thursday's third game, when he put a forehand in the net, allowing Verdasco to break him at love to go ahead 2-1. Nadal wouldn't face another break point the rest of the match, though, and won the last 13 points he served in the second set.
And now Nadal is headed to a third consecutive semifinal at Flushing Meadows. Nadal never has reached a final in New York.
On Saturday, Nadal -- trying to complete a career Grand Slam -- will face 12th-seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia for a spot in the final.
No. 2 Roger Federer will face No. 3 Novak Djokovic in Saturday's other semifinal; they won their quarterfinals Wednesday.
Youzhny's only previous trip to the semifinals at any Grand Slam tournament came at the 2006 U.S. Open. He beat No. 25 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 3-6, 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in four hours.
"Maybe I was just a bit luckier than him," Youzhny said.
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