Jojo Doria

Fourth seed David Ferrer of Spain secured a spot in the semifinal for the first time in five years after beating Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia, 6-3, 6-7(5), 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), in an epic four-hour, 31-minute battle at the US Open.

Ferrer, who last made the US Open semis in 2007, eyes his first Grand Slam final against the winner of Thursday's night game between defending champion Novak Djokovic and 2009 winner Juan Martin del Potro.

The Spaniard leveled the match at two sets apiece by securing the only break of serve in the fourth set, but fell behind early in the fifth after Tipsarevic came up with two big saves in the opening game and grabbed a 2-0 lead with a volley winner.

After taking a hard fall at the end of the sixth game when he slipped at the baseline, Tipsarevic relinquished his lead as he hit a backhand wide on double break point.

The Serbian found himself double break point down in his next service game, but following a short injury time-out to get his right groin taped, won the next four points to hold serve.

Ferrer forced a tie-break with his 15th ace of the match and grabbed an early 5-3 lead before clinching the win after Tipsarevic sent a backhand into the net.

The Spaniard improves to a 17-9 record in matches decided in a fifth set, while Tipsarevic fell to 15-8.

Meanwhile, No. 2 seeds Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States marched into the final of the doubles event after disposing of No. 9 seeds Aisam Ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands, 6-3 6-4.

"We played great today and are so excited to be in another US Open final," said Mike. "We usually don't sleep well before big matches, but we're going to go out there tomorrow and give it hell."

In the final, the Americans will face the partnership of Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek, who advanced after one of their opponents - Marc Lopez - retired with a left calf injury.

The Bryan brothers have won the US Open three times, in 2005, 2008 and 2010, while also reaching the finals in 2003.

Paes is chasing his eighth Grand Slam men's doubles title and third at the US Open while Stepanek seeks his second Grand Slam men's doubles title.

 

Ferrer Survives Tipsarevic, Advances to US Open Semis