Roddick, Isner knocked out in quarters

Ultimately, it came hell and high water for Andy Roddick and his fellow American men at the U.S. Open.

Though the Yanks made a little noise and stayed around a bit longer than expected, two days of rain turned out to be a temporary reprieve, a midnight call from the governor that merely put off the punishment dished out by the likes of defending champion Rafael Nadal and fourth-seeded Andy Murray.

In Friday's postponed quarterfinals, Roddick was smacked around by Nadal, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3, shortly after Murray dealt a convincing 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (2) blow to John Isner. Just as Nadal thoroughly muted Roddick's primary power, winning half of the points off Roddick's serve (34 of 68), so was Isner hoisted on his own petard, soundly beaten by Murray in the one area Isner dominates -- the tiebreak.

Those latest U.S. losses, following the fourth-round elimination of Mardy Fish and Donald Young, once again meant a disappointing second week for the Americans. With Roddick and Isner exiting one round short of a possible though improbable semifinal duel, a 2005 Andre Agassi victory over Robby Ginepri remains the last time the Open had an all-American penultimate match -- for men or women.

Instead, Nadal will tangle with Murray in that half of the draw, with top-seeded Novak Djokovic playing five-time champ Roger Federer in Saturday's other semi.

With Arthur Ashe Stadium barely half full because of ticket changes mirroring the scrambled schedule, Nadal immediately set about Roddick's destruction, slashing winner after winner from defensive positions. Two quick service breaks sent Nadal merrily on his way to his fourth consecutive U.S. semifinal. He struck 35 winners and made a mere 13 unforced errors.

"It was quick,'' said Roddick, whose lack of match play because of recent injuries left him flat from the beginning. "It was evident pretty early that he was in full control of things. That's the most aggressive I've seen him play this summer.''

Nadal declared himself "very happy about this U.S. Open. I will try my best to be in the final, but even if I lose [Saturday], I am happy.''

Murray, meanwhile, not only lived up to his reputation as a persistent defender, but set an early tone with some spectacular passing shots, repeatedly hanging Isner out to dry at the net. And just when it appeared the two were headed to a first-set tiebreak, recently a death-and-taxes certainty in Isner matches, Isner double-faulted at 5-5, 15-30, then couldn't execute a half-volley off a reaching forehand return by Murray.

Murray immediately served out the set, and by the time Isner began to generate some momentum, Murray blunted it in the fourth-set tiebreak, gifted a double fault, netted volley and weak drop-shot attempt by Isner. In the end, Murray had committed just 20 unforced errors, compared with Isner's 54.

"You know, I would've liked my chances in a fifth set,'' Isner said. "I felt comfortable. [But] he outplayed me.''

So it's down to the world's top four players. A Spaniard, Scot, Serb and Swiss. Nothing new at the U.S. Open.