(CNN) -- Defending champion Rafael Nadal and fourth seed Andy Murray will face each other in the semifinals of the U.S.Open at Flushing Meadows, as the four superstars of the men's game once again showed they are a class apart from their rivals.
On Thursday, top seed Novak Djokovic and five-time champion Roger Federer secured their last four places -- and Nadal and Murray made it a top clean sweep for the top four seeds with victories on Friday.
Briton Murray -- the only one of the top four not to win a grand slam yet -- was first to go through, holding off a spirited challenge from 28th-seeded American John Isner to progress 7-5 6-4 3-6 7-6.
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The victory ensured Murray became only the seventh player in history to reach the semifinals of all four grand slams in the same year -- after Djokovic became the sixth the day before.
And he was followed on court by second seed Nadal -- who was in superb from as he blitzed 2003 champion and 21st seed Andy Roddick 6-2 6-1 6-3 in under two hours.
Nadal and Murray are no strangers to playing each other this year. The pair met at the same stage of both Wimbledon and the French Open earlier in 2011, with the Spaniard victorious both times.
Following his victory, Nadal said on court: "It's always a pleasure to face Andy Murray. He is one of the most talented players on the ATP Tour.
"He beat me here in 2008 when he reached the final. It'll be an exciting match and a big challenge," added Nadal, who has yet to drop a set on his way to the semifinals.
Murray, who trails Nadal 12-4 in career meetings, believes he can beat Nadal, telling the official ATP Tour website: "I've beaten Nadal before in the semis and I won against him at the Australian Open.
"When I've won against him, it's always been on hard courts. It's a good surface for me to play him on," he added.
"Obviously at the French I would go into that match not being a favourite, then Wimbledon I've got a chance, but his record is great there. I think on the American hard courts it's a close matchup."
