Youzhny fulfills promise with Nadal upset

NEW YORK, Sep 7 (Reuters) Mikhail Youzhny has long been considered a player of promise and at the US Open he showed why when he eliminated French Open winner Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals.

Changing pace, using spin, setting up angles and swinging full out for the corners and lines, the unseeded Russian buried the second seed under a flurry of winners for a 6-3 5-7 7-6 6-1 win to reach his first grand slam semi-final.

''I think it was one of the best matches in my career,'' said 24-year-old Youzhny, ranked 54.

Said Nadal: ''Mikhail is playing unbelievable. All balls inside, all winners.'' Four years ago, Youzhny made a name for himself by fighting back from two sets down to beat France's Paul-Henri Mathieu in a fifth and decisive 2002 Davis Cup final match to give Russia its first title.

Youzhny became a reluctant hero back home and injuries and inconsistent play have held him back since.

''You know, Davis Cup was four years ago, and it was a great match for me,'' he said.

''It was not really for me. It was a great match for our country because for the first time we won the Davis Cup.

''But for me, it was really a tough time because three months before the Davis Cup, my father had died. And I cannot be glad.'' Youzhny, ranked as high as 15 at the start of 2005, battled elevated expectations and knee and back injuries in the years since his Davis Cup heroics.

''After Davis Cup in Russia, everybody bring me up because I won the last match.

''Everybody says, 'Youzhny won the Davis Cup, he is like national hero.' Everybody start to talk about me, he is next number one in the world.

''But I tell you, it was a very tough time.'' Youzhny, who will be facing 2003 champion Andy Roddick in the semi-finals, may be coming out of his shell.

After his shock victory over Nadal, the Russian placed his racquet on top of his head and saluted the four corners of Arthur Ashe Stadium, echoing the familiar farewell given the New York crowd by Andre Agassi.

With victories over seeded players Tommy Robredo (6), David Ferrer (11) and Dominik Hrbaty (19), Youzhny seems at ease in New York.

''Now I stop thinking about the result, about the ranking. I think only about my game, what I need to improve.'' Reuters PM GC1104