Friday, September 8 2006 11:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New York: Russian Mikhail Youzhny torpedoes the chance of a potential third straight Grand Slam final between Rafael Nadal and Swiss Roger Federer with an upset of the Spaniard in the US Open quarterfinals.

The world number 54's convincing 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 knockout of Nadal Wednesday (6 Sep, 2006) counts as the biggest win in the career of the Russian Davis Cup player.

Federer meanwhile earned his 17th consecutive victory at the event as he overwhelms Marc Gicquel of France 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 in a fourth-round match.

Nadal still holds his head high after the loss.

"This was still my best match in New York, especially at the beginning," the two-time French Open winner says.

"I was playing very well, but I didn't have the best of luck sometimes. I'm very happy with my tennis," he adds.

"But I was not playing with calm in the important moments. I congratulate Mikhail."

Youzhny, competing in his first ever quarter-final at a major, frustrated the huge-hitting Nadal as he launched an attack on the Spaniard's forehand in a contest lasting just over three hours.

A frustrated Nadal committed 38 unforced errors and all but collapsed in the fourth set. He got on the scoreboard after trailing 5-0 but a mis-hit a game later handed Youzhny a match point. The Russian converted in style as Nadal fired a backhand return wide down the line.

"It was a very tough match, I can't believe that I beat him," Youzhny says after handing Nadal only his eighth defeat of the season.

"Everyone in the stands thought Nadal would win, but some may have changed their minds during the match," he says, after victory on the secondary showcourt at Flushing Meadows.

The Russian reversed a run of three straight losses to Nadal.

Also playing again on the secondary Armstrong court, world number one Federer popped 15 aces - the last for a pair of match points - to take down the 29-year-old outsider Gicquel.

Federer is aiming to become only the third man to win three straight US Open titles after John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl. He has not lost a set so far at this edition.

"Today was tough, it was quick out there," Federer says.

"The court feels so much smaller. You always feel like it's tougher to return."

"I had a feeling that I had to play good, solid today," he adds.

"At the start, I didn't lose a point in the first three games. That was great, and that got me going - it could have been a key to the match."

Federer next takes on American fifth seed James Blake, who defeated Czech Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-3, 6-1.

To lift the New York crown again, Federer will need to win four matches in five days.

Also making the quarters were German Tommy Haas, who beat friend and practice partner Marat Safin 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

It was a bad day all around for Russia's Safin family as younger sister Dinara, the women's 12th seed, fell victim to world number one Amelie Mauresmo, who inflicted a 6-2, 6-3 quarter-final defeat. Seventh seed Nikolay Davydenko notched a Russian win over Brit Andy Murray 6-1, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.

Women's top seed Mauresmo rolled over Safina on the way towards a possible third Grand Slam title of 2006.

Mauresmo took victory in 62 minutes, advancing into the final four on the first of three match points. The winner broke five times and notched 17 winners against 27 unforced errors for the Russian.

"I didn't want to spend too much time on the courts," Mauresmo says.

"I played three sets Tuesday and three sets the match before."

"It's good to be able to be in control, feel good on the court, and really get a good rhythm," she adds.

"Today I think I felt pretty good on the court."

Second seed Justine Henin-Hardenne took treatment for a rib problem on the way to eliminating Lindsay Davenport 6-4, 6-4 in a battle of former champions.

The 2003 winner showed little further sign of discomfort as she produced a win in just less than 90 minutes against the US woman who triumphed in 1998.

Henin-Hardenne, holder of five Grand Slam titles, will face Serb Jelena Jankovic in the semi-finals.

Davenport's loss meant that an American woman has failed to reach the final four in New York for the second year in a row.