Djokovic beats Federer to set up Nadal final

Novak Djokovic fought off two match points with huge winners en route to a thrilling 5-7 6-1 5-7 6-2 7-5 upset of five-time US Open winner Roger Federer to reach the final.

The third-seeded Serbian had been eliminated by the Swiss master in the three previous US Opens, but he returned the favour by winning a nail-biting fifth set in the semi-final to reach the championship match against top-seeded Rafa Nadal.

Djokovic, runner-up in 2007 and a semi-final loser the past two years, dropped to his knees and kissed the court after the second-seeded Federer's forehand landed wide on match point.

"I think I can compare the feeling with winning a major after I have won this kind of match," the 23-year-old Serb said after the intense, three-hour 44-minute battle.

Nadal routed 12th-seeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-2 6-3 6-4 in the other semi-final to book a spot in the final where he will look to complete a career grand slam.