Flushing Meadows, NY -- (Sports Network) - Sixth-seeded Andy Murray advanced to his first ever Grand Slam final with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4 victory over top-ranked Rafael Nadal on Sunday at the U.S. Open.

The match was suspended on Saturday because of the deluge Tropical Storm Hanna brought, after Murray had won the first two sets and Nadal had taken the lead in the third.

Nadal rallied to win the third set on Sunday, and had pulled away to a 3-1 lead in the fourth. But the Scotsman Murray rallied and the set was tied at 4-4. Murray served to easily win the ninth game, then broke Nadal's serve with a backhand passing shot to win the match.

"After playing so well yesterday and everything that went on with the rain and the court changes and stuff, you know, obviously going a break behind in the fourth, it was, you know, almost slipping away slightly," Murray said. "Then to come back in the end, you're relieved that you managed to come through. No, I'm obviously delighted that I won the match, I mean, against a guy who's played as well as (Nadal). He's the best player in the world this year because he's played great tennis."

It was Murray's first ever win against the Spaniard Nadal, who is the reigning Wimbledon, four-time French Open and Olympic champion.

"Today was a different match. I played with a little bit more energy. It was later," Nadal said. "I have my chance in the fourth. I didn't convert. He beat me. Just congratulate him."

The result sets up Murray to face second-seeded and reigning four-time U.S. Open champion Roger Federer on Monday. The Swiss Federer downed third-seeded Novak Djokovic 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 in a semifinal on Saturday.

Murray's victory put an end to the prospect of a third Grand Slam final between Nadal and Federer; The Swiss superstar lost to Nadal in the finals at the French Open and Wimbledon, but will now have to face Murray, who owns a winning career record against Federer.

Murray is 2-1 lifetime in ATP events against Federer, most recently winning in Dubai this year. He also won in 2006 in Cincinnati, while Federer won the 2005 final in Bangkok. The two have never played in a Grand Slam event, though Murray has a daunting challenge in front of him; the 27-year-old Federer has won 33 consecutive matches at Flushing Meadows.

The 21-year-old Murray will be trying for his first ever Grand Slam title, while Federer will be going for his 13th.

"Ideally, I think you'd want to be in his position," Murray said of Federer. "I think it's slightly better, but it's a Grand Slam final and I'm not going to let 24 hours of rest or, you know, having to play today or whatever get in the way of giving 110 percent. I'll try my best to win the match. That's not going to be the difference tomorrow."

Nadal had stolen the momentum in Sunday's match by winning the third set, and in the fourth set Murray took the first game. But Nadal worked to tie the set with a point that went to six deuces by sending a point to the sideline that Murray, up near the net, couldn't reach.

Nadal won the next two games only to set Murray storm back and win his service game for a 4-3 edge. Murray had a chance to break Nadal's ensuing service game, as he went up 40-30, but hit long on two straight points to give Nadal the advantage.

The Spaniard then forced the Scotsman to hit wide, tying the set up at 4-4. Murray, who had 21 aces in the match, stormed through another service game to push Nadal to the brink.

Then Nadal took a 30-15 lead before Murray won a hectic point -- the Spaniard hit a wide shot that the six-foot-three Murray rescued. Nadal's return nipped the net and Murray rushed in to blow it past Nadal to win the point.

On the next point, Murray sat on the baseline and returned strong volleys that made Nadal run end to end, before he finally won the point on a soft slice to get to match point. Murray's match-clinching shot, a backhand, went by Nadal without an attempt at a return.

"Every time I played him on hard courts, I've always felt like I wasn't getting pushed around the court," Murray said of Nadal. "I always felt like I was dictating a lot of the points. His strokes, although they have a lot of topspin, if you play close up to the baseline, they come to you at quite a nice height...If you can take your opportunities early in the rally to get a good strike in, you can dictate a lot of the points."

The win moved Murray to 41-13 this season with three championships, while Nadal, who has won an incredible 75 matches and tour-high eight titles, took just his ninth loss.