Gritty Youzhny Reaches US Open Semis

(AFP) - Mikhail Youzhny of Russia reached the U.S. Open semi-finals Thursday with a 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 3-6 6-3 6-3 win over Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka.

It is the second time Youzhny has gone so deep at the U.S. Open, losing to Andy Roddick in the 2006 semi-finals.

"I like New York. I like to play here," said 28-year-old Youzhny after a match that lasted exactly four hours.

Wawrinka, under the tutelage of Roger Federer's former coach Peter Lundgren, reached his first grand slam quarter-final at the 23rd time of asking on the back of wins over fourth seed Andy Murray and home hope Sam Querrey.

But those two matches were grueling affairs that saw the Swiss player needing treatment for a thigh muscle strain in both.

Youzhny had enjoyed a comparatively comfortable run through the draw, accounting for John Isner of the United States and Tommy Robredo of Spain in the previous two rounds.

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