Novak Djokovic v David Ferrer in US Open semi-finals as it happened

"We were all praying for less wind today. I was very lucky the first set was interrupted by the weather yesterday. He handled the wind much better than me. I came in today a different player and I'm really happy to be in another Grand Slam final.

"It's the final of a Grand Slam and I don't think there is any clear favourite. He is looking for his first major title and I'm sure he is very motivated. Hopefully we can come up with our best tennis for this crowd."

"It's definitely a huge relief to get through this match. David is a great competitor and I have huge respect for him - he's one of the fittest players on the tour, never gives up and it was a pleasure to play against him today.

"I love playing here. I love the energy, love the crowd. The crowd interacts with the points, the players and the matches. The night sessions are unique here in New York. In the name of all the players, we love playing here."

Ferrer, to his credit, is refusing to roll over. It's just he's being outplayed by one of the greatest hard court players this sport has ever seen. The Spanish fourth seed holds to 15, but the Serbian will now serve for a place in the final.

Mr Djokovic looking in splendid condition for Monday's final against Andy Murray. He's now barely putting a foot wrong and wraps up the hold to 15 when Ferrer finds his best friend, the net, once more. The Spaniard will serve to stay in the championship...

One of the most eye-catching shots of the day - a beautifully-weighted crosscourt forehand pass - secures a love hold and keeps Ferrer's slim hopes alive.

Blink-of-an-eye stuff as Djokovic continues his serving masterclass with three brilliantly-executed points. He then drives a backhand into the tramlines and angles a midcourt forehand into the net. But an unreturnable delivery seals the deal. Taxi for Ferrer?

Put simply, Djokovic is rampant. Three hulking forehands bring the defending champion two double-break points and although both are saved by Ferrer with some aggressive play, a double-fault and long forehand give Djokovic a third break point. At which stage the fourth seed from Spain laces backhand into the net. A 37th unforced error and perhaps his most costly.

A furious Ferrer switches his racquet, comes out, turns around, heads back to his racquet bag, rummages around, takes another. He's mumbling to himself through a confident service hold for Djokovic and exchanges words with his coach at the end. Much more of that and he could land himself in trouble.

There was also a new shirt for Ferrer at the change of ends - from red to white - but he's got the blues out there on the court as Djokovic breaks to 15 and takes total control of the contest. Two poor errors see him dish up two break points and then comes an awful off-forehand into the net. "That's 35 unforced errors already," says commentator David Law on BBC Radio 5 live's web-only commentary. "I don't think I've ever seen him make that many in a match before."

Anything you can do... Ferrer performs under pressure with four cool deliveries. Djokovic to serve for a 2-1 lead.

A second consecutive love hold from the five-time Grand Slam champion. Djokovic's back on song and Ferrer must now serve to stay in the third set.

The Ferrer backhand breaks down again to give Djokovic a look-in at the start of game seven. Spain's number two replies with - wow - an overhead winner from his own baseline and a cutely-disguised drop shot. But he then fires wide and Djokovic bashes away an overhead to earn himself a break point. He's got the bit between his teeth now, the second seed, and his support team are willing him on from the sparsely-populated stands. Ferrer runs round a forehand but into the net it goes.

It's a perfect response from Djokovic. Literally. He holds to love to level us up. Just what you need in these toasty conditions. Novak has started peppering the Ferrer backhand, a new tactic?

A love hold is sealed when Djokovic again goes long, and that's eight points in a row for Ferrer. He's ahead for the first time since the end of the first set. How will Novak respond? Tweet us at #bbctennis on pop over an SMS on 81111 (UK).

Monster tennis from break back. He sticks with Djokovic in a marathon rally to bring up deuce when his opponent drifts a backhand long. Novak then nets a forehand to offer up a break point and clips a backhand long. Daveeed's hopping around the baseline like a kid on a pogo stick. Life in this match yet.

While clearly impressed by the level of Djokovic's play, the crowd are undoubtedly hoping Ferrer can rally to keep this match alive. That's judging by the scientific analysis method of listening to how loud they cheer when the Spaniard wins a point. He manages to hold serve with a precise volley despite a couple of sticky moments at deuce and the noise is, well, loud.

A carefree hold to 15 for the man from Belgrade, who has won the last three hard court Grand Slams (a 26-match winning run). "Has anyone ever moved better than this on a hard court?" asks one of the TV commentators. You tell us on Twitter using the #bbctennis hashtag of via text on 81111 (UK).

Djokovic makes the best possible start to the third set. And how important might it prove. The defending champion ends a 24-shot rally by forcing Ferrer to fire long and is then handed 0-30 when his opponent puts a smash way, way wide. He soon has two break points and, on the first, Ferrer find the net with a backhand. Few would be capable of beating the Serbian on this form.

Djokovic came into this match having spent less time on court than any other of the semi-finalist this fortnight (nine hours and eight minutes), and he looks in a hurry to get this one over and done with. Especially as Andy Murray will have had a day's extra rest by the time Monday's final comes around. But the Serbian still has plenty of work to do, as indicated as Ferrer digs in with a fine service hold to get his name on the board in set two.

Now it's Djokovic's turn to lose his concentration and Ferrer passes the 25-year-old Serbian with a threaded forehand up the line to bring up three break points. Novak is a lucky boy as a forehand clips the net cord and trickles over, leaving his opponent with no chance. Djokovic, who has not lost a Grand Slam match on a hard court since the 2010 US Open, powers to deuce and draws a forehand error from Ferrer before closing out with a backhand on to the baseline. Class.

This time Ferrer's forehand only makes it halfway up the net as Djokovic engineers two double-break points. The Spaniard duly drives a backhand into the net. Nine unforced errors in three games. No wonder he's reaching for the towel.

Unforced error number five of the second set - this time a forehand dumped into the net - sees Ferrer gift Djokovic a hold to 3-0. Break consolidated and it's Manhattan-style one-way traffic at present.

Commentator David Law reports a middle-aged man on his feet shaking both fists as Djokovic registers three break points at 0-40 with some quite extraordinary defensive play. Sliding? On a hard court? Is that possible? Seems so. Having sliced a backhand drop shot into the net to land himself in major trouble, Ferrer then floats a backhand wide and long. Nole on the comeback trail.

A confidence-boosting love service hold sees Djokovic get his nose in front at the start of the second set. Over to you, Daveeeed.

So let's try this again. Novak Djokovic v David Ferrer in the US Open semi-finals. Battling it out for the right to meet Britain's Andy Murray in the final. We were supposed to know the outcome to this match last night, only for the now-infamous early-September New York weather to intervene with Ferrer leading 5-2 in the first set. Take two...