ARTISTIC AND AUTHORITATIVE: Striking a posture reminiscent of the fabled gymnasts from his country, Russia's Mikhail Youzhny returns to Rafael Nadal during the course of his upset win over the second seed on Wednesday. — Photo: AP

NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal was upset on Wednesday in the U.S. Open quarterfinals by 54th-ranked Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-1, thwarting an anticipated third straight meeting against Roger Federer in the final of a Grand Slam.

"Unbelievable," Youzhny said. "I cannot believe I beat Rafa in four sets."

Youzhny never before had been beyond the fourth round of a major tournament.

Andy Roddick capped a busy day at Flushing Meadows by beating fellow former champion Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 to reach the semifinals for the first time since he won the tournament in 2003.

"Well, I guess I can play tennis a little bit again," Roddick said. "I'm in a little bit of shock. It's been a rough six months for me. I haven't played too well."

Nadal, the two-time French Open champion and this year's Wimbledon runner-up, succumbed at the end, hanging his head at changeovers in the fourth set after wasting a 5-4 lead in the tie-breaker.

Straight-set wins

On the other side of the men's draw, top-seeded Federer and fifth-seeded American James Blake moved into the quarterfinals, both winning in straight sets. That half's other quarterfinalist, apart from Davydenko, is No. 14 Tommy Haas.

With new coach Jimmy Connors looking on in a blazer and tie, clapping occasionally, Roddick turned his big match against 2001 Open champion Hewitt into a mismatch. Hewitt came in with a 6-2 edge in career meetings, 3-0 at majors, but this isn't the same Roddick.

Confidence boost

In just a few weeks of work, five-time Open champion Connors has given Roddick a ton of confidence, in addition to encouraging him to be more aggressive. Roddick pounded 17 aces against Hewitt, considered the game's top returner, and compiled a 46-28 edge in winners.

Now the ninth-seeded Roddick will deal with Youzhny, who added a second upset on Wednesday, teaming with Leos Friedl of the Czech Republic in men's doubles to knock off the defending champions and top-seeded pair of American twins Bob and Mike Bryan 6-7(5), 7-6(2), 6-4 in the third round.

There still could be a No. 1 vs. No. 2 final for the women, because top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo and Justine Henin-Hardenne advanced with relative ease.

Mauresmo next faces No. 3 Maria Sharapova, who beat No. 27 Tatiana Golovin 7-6(4), 7-6(0).

"She's the one to beat right now," Sharapova said. "I feel like I have nothing to lose."

Henin-Hardenne defeated Lindsay Davenport 6-4, 6-4 in a showdown between former champions to set up a semifinal against No. 19 Jelena Jankovic, who won on Tuesday.

Henin-Hardenne needed a massage after the first set for a twinge in her back and sore rib, then dropped the first five points of the second set and wound up trailing 3-1. But the Belgian broke right back, and again to go ahead 5-4.

"She hits the ball great. She competes well. She's a great athlete," Davenport said. "In my mind, she's probably the best player in the world."

Federer is aiming for a major title No. 3 of 2006, but he's aiming for No. 9 of his career.

The two-time defending champion won the first 12 points en route to a 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3 victory over Marc Gicquel. Blake, meanwhile, saved all 15 break points he faced and eliminated No. 12 Tomas Bedrdych 6-4, 6-3, 6-1.

Youzhny displayed the sort of aggressive and on-the-mark shotmaking he used to knock off No. 6 Tommy Robredo, No. 11 David Ferrer and No. 19 Dominik Hrbaty earlier in the tournament. Before facing Robredo, Youzhny had lost 10 matches in a row against players in the top 10. Before Wednesday, he was 0-6 against players at No. 1 or 2.

But his high-risk style worked to perfection against Nadal. Youzhny compiled more than twice as many winners as Nadal (49-23), limiting Nadal to one in the fourth set.

The tournament lost another personality with 2000 U.S. Open champion Marat Safin's 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(5) exit against pal and practice partner Haas.

Safin threw his racquet to the ground with both hands during the match, letting out yells, muttering to himself.

Bad day for Indian boys

In boys' doubles, third seeds Jeevan Neduncheziyan and Sanam Singh crashed out after a shocking 3-6, 4-6 loss at the hands of unseeded Australian-Chilean pair of Greg Jones and Hans Podlipnik in the first round here. — Agencies

Prefix denotes seeding

Men's singles: Quarterfinals: 9-Andy Roddick (U.S.) bt 15-Lleyton Hewitt (Aus) 6-3, 7-5, 6-4; Mikhail Youzhny (Rus) bt 2-Rafael Nadal (Esp) 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-1.

Fourth round: 1-Roger Federer (Sui) bt Marc Gicquel (Fra) 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3; 5-James Blake (U.S.) bt 12-Tomas Berdych (Cze) 6-4, 6-3, 6-1; 14-Tommy Haas (Ger) bt Marat Safin (Rus) 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(5).

Men's doubles: Quarterfinals: 4-Paul Hanley (Aus) & Kevin Ullyett (Zim) bt 5-Fabrice Santoro (Fra) & Nenad Zimonjic (Ser) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; 2-Jonas Bjorkman (Swe) & Max Mirnyi (Blr) bt Arnaud Clement (Fra) & Michael Llodra (Fra) 7-6(8), 6-7(6), 6-2.

Women's singles: Quarterfinals: 1-Amelie Mauresmo (Fra) bt 12-Dinara Safina (Rus) 6-2, 6-3; 3-Maria Sharapova (Rus) bt 27-Tatiana Golovin (Fra) 7-6(4), 7-6(0); 2-Justine Henin-Hardenne (Bel) bt 10-Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) 6-4, 6-4.

Mixed doubles: Quarterfinals: Kveta Peschke & Martin Damm (Cze) bt Anabel Medina Garrigues (Esp) & Sebastian Prieto (Arg) 6-4, 6-2; Nicole Pratt & Paul Hanley (Aus) bt Nathalie Dechy & Fabrice Santoro (Fra) 6-2, 2-6, 11-9.

Boys doubles: First round: Greg Jones (Aus) & Hans Podlipnik (Chi) bt 3-Jeevan Neduncheziyan & Sanam Singh (Ind) 6-3, 6-4.

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