Andy Murray reaches U.S. Open and sets his sights on becoming Britain's next Grand Slam champion

The Scot completed a convincing 6-2, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 win in a match delayed by the weather.

Murray had taken a two-set lead on Saturday night but was a break down at 2-3 in the third when rain intervened. He failed to claw that break back but won the fourth set as Nadal's nerve failed. He will meet Roger Federer in tonight's final.

Andy Murray celebrates after defeating Spain's Rafael Nadal in four sets at last night's U.S. Open

Murray said: 'I'm very relieved to come back after yesterday and win . . . I'm just glad I came through.'

After the match, he said: 'It was awesome. To beat him is a great feeling. He's beaten me the last five times in a row and that made it difficult.'

With the majority of the noisy New York crowd behind him, Murray had stormed into a two-set lead on Saturday.

Nadal can't hide his disappointment as he loses another point to his younger competitor

However, his march into the final was delayed by rain from remnants of tropical storm Hanna which had battered parts of the U.S. over the weekend.

When the match was restarted at Flushing Meadows a day later, it was Murray who took a battering from the man they call the Spanish Matador.

Nadal, who had beaten the Scot in all five previous matches against him, fought back to clinch the third set.

But Murray would not be beaten. And with his proud mother Judy, girlfriend Kim Sears and his coaching staff, known as Team Murray, cheering every shot, Britain's new tennis sensation held his nerve.

The 21-year-old shows his delight at defeating the Spaniard

It was perhaps fitting that Murray's outfit was emblazoned with the logo of Fred Perry - the British legend he hopes to emulate in tonight's final.

As he hit the winning shot pass Nadal in the Arthur Ash stadium, he clenched his fists, tilted his head to the skies and clenched his fists with delight, or perhaps relief.

The crowd erupted with joy after witnessing 'the best match of the tournament'.

Team Murray: The tennis player receives encouragement from girlfriend Kim Sears and actor Will Ferrell

His dour demeanour and volatile temperament which have come to the fore in previous displays have not always endeared himself to the British public.

Murray has taken steps to improve his relationship with the English following his infamous comment during the 2006 World Cup that he would support any football team that was playing England.

He has since dismissed that as purely a joke, and insisted that he is very fond of his English grandmother.

And last night he went a long way towards becoming the darling of British tennis with a professional and mesmerizing display.

Immediately after the match, Murray met one of his favourite Hollywood comedians, Will Ferrell, who watched the game.

Murray chases a shot from Rafael Nadal during the match

Former British player Greg Rusedski, who has reached a US Open final himself, said of Murray: 'He's so mentally strong. He believes it is his destiny and it will be his destiny tomorrow.'

Tonight's match against Federer, the current world number two, could prove something of a grudge match after the Swiss player criticised Murray after their last match.

Back in March Murray knocked Federer out of the Dubai Championships in the opening round.

But Federer said he was unimpressed by Murray's lack of attacking intent, and did not believe that the British No1 had developed since they first crossed paths in the final of the 2005 Thailand Open.

'I don't think he has changed his game a whole lot since the first time I played him and I really thought he would have done,' Federer said after the match.

'He is going to have to grind it very hard in the next few years if he is going to play this way.'

Murray and Nadal exchange congratulations and commiserations after last night's match