Federer sweeps past lackluster Djokovic

(CNN) -- Four-time defending champion Roger Federer brushed aside the subdued challenge of Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic to reach Sunday's U.S. Open final.

Federer took two hours and 45 minutes to wrap up a 6-3 5-7 7-5 6-2 victory over Djokovic, who showed little of his true quality on the Arthur Ashe Stadium Court.

Swiss star Federer, seeking his 13th career grand slam title, will have to wait to discover his opponent as the second semifinal between new world number one Rafael Nadal and British sixth seed Andy Murray was abruptly ended by Tropical Storm Hanna.

Murray was on the brink of a massive upset victory as he led two sets to love although Nadal had gained an early break to lead 3-2 in the third set.

Murray took the first set with a double break of service against a distinctly below-par Nadal and claimed the second on a tiebreak.

Nadal was fighting back when an initial few specks of rain turned into a downpour.

Play was quickly called off for the day and the women's final between Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic rescheduled for Sunday.

Earlier Federer, still seaking his first grand slam title of a disappointing 2008, looked back to his best as he stormed through the opening set with a single break.

Djokovic, who had to endure jeers and catcalls from the New York crowd after his quarterfinal victory over Andy Roddick, hit back with an early break but could not sustain the advantage as Federer broke back.

But the scrappy nature of the match was underlined in the 12th game as Federer fell three set points down with sloppy play, saving two of them before missing with a routine forehand.

It might have been expected to spark a Djokovic revival but it proved a false dawn as Federer broke in the 11th game and served out for a two sets to one lead.

Suitably inspired, the deposed world number one showed again his form of the opening set and two breaks of serve settled the match..

Federer, who finished with 20 aces and only one double-fault, was winning his 33rd successive match at Flushing Meadows and will be contesting his 13th grand slam final out of the last 14.

"I definitely had moments during today where I thought, 'This is how I would like to play every time,"' Federer said in his on-court interview.

"It was a very nice feeling to get that feeling back."