Djokovic and Murray were last on court for their eagerly anticipated match in the Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadows and it was the 2011 champion who prevailed 7-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 against the champion of two years ago.

A thrilling contest saw Murray come back from 4-1 down in the opening set but world number one Djokovic eventually closed it out on a tie-break.

The Scot got off to a poor start in the second also going 3-0 down but once again he rallied to claw his way back and this time it was he who dominated the tie-break taking it 7-1 and levelling the match.

World number one Djokovic regrouped to come storming back in the third breaking Murray twice to seal a 6-2 win as the London 2012 champion began to wilt in front of the 22,000 capacity crowd in New York.

With the score at 5-4 in the fourth, Djokovic made the decisive breakthrough in the 10th game as he finally managed to break his opponent's serve.

The Serb had two match points but only needed one as Murray dragged a backhand into the net to exit the US Open at the quarter-final stage for the second successive year.

"We both gave our best," Djokovic said, after three hours and 32 minutes on court.

"At times the tennis was not that nice.

"We made a lot of unforced errors, but that's due to the very physical battle we had in the first two and a half sets.

"I didn't expect any less before the match."

Djokovic is chasing a second US Open title in New York ©Getty Images



Murray reflected on another failure to reach a first Grand Slam semi-final since his historic win at Wimbledon in 2013.

"I think I can do better," he admitted.

"It was a good tournament.

"I played some nice tennis at times.

"There are definitely a few things I can do better, to keep working on and improving.

"But it's a shame.

"Obviously the Grand Slams are over for this year, so I have to wait a few months before the next one."

Djokovic will now take on Nishikori after he came through an epic five-setter against Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka, sealing a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 win in four hours and 15 minutes.

Nishikori became the first man from Japan to reach a Grand Slam semi-final in the Open era with victory over the Swiss third seed.

"I started a little bit tight but my body was okay"  said the 24-year-old, who also needed five sets to beat Canadian Milos Raonic in the fourth round.

"I was feeling more and more confident, especially getting the third set.

"I feel amazing.

"I hope I can recover again and play 100 per cent tennis next round."

Japan's Kei Nishikori continues his historic run in the US Open ©Getty Images



Meanwhile, five-time champion Serena Williams looked ominously comfortable as she despatched Italy's Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 6-2 to set up a semi-final with Russian Ekaterina Makarova.

The 17th seed beat two-time finalist Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-4,6-2 to reach the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time.

Swiss Roger Federer continues his quest for a sixth US Open tomorrow as he takes on Frenchman Gael Monfils in their quarter-final match, while sixth seed Thomas Berdych of Czech Republic takes on Croatian Marin Cilic.

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