In reaching his fifth consecutive US Open semifinal, defending champ and World No. 2 Rafael Nadal was thoroughly impressive, dispatching Andy Roddick in a one-side affair, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3, in under two hours.

Nadal’s victory ensured the dream semis at the 2011 US Open. The Spaniard is the only one of the “Big Four” not to have lost a set en route. Nadal played his finest match yet, breaking Roddick’s serve on six of seven opportunities, striking 35 winners, and committing just 13 unforced errors. It was a masterful display of aggressive tennis.

 “I am doing a lot of things much better than few weeks ago,” said Nadal. “For me win is important, but feel myself very competitive and have the feeling that I can win is probably even more important.”

So dominant was Nadal that he won 16 of the final 17 points to close out the second set. In attendance was the First Lady, Michelle Obama, and her daughters Sasha and Malia.

Nadal now meets No. 4 Andy Murray, in a rematch of their 2008 semifinal in Flushing Meadows, won by the Scot. Nadal holds a career 12-4 advantage overMurray, including four of the last five.