SECOND SEED Novak Djokovic completed a weather-interrupted 2-6 6-1 6-4 6-2 victory over fourth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer to return to the US Open men’s final at the National Tennis Center in pursuit a repeat championship.

The Serb, the winner of this year’s Australian Open, will go against third-seeded Olympic champion Andy Murray of Britain, who will be aiming for his first grand slam title in a final rescheduled for today because of the delays.

“It’s definitely a huge relief to get through this match. He is a great competitor,” Djokovic (25) said about Ferrer.

Five-times grand slam winner Djokovic, befuddled by the blustery winds that blew through Flushing Meadows ahead of an advancing storm that eventually suspended the semi-final on Saturday, trailed 5-2 when the match resumed yesterday under sunny skies.

After the Spaniard held serve to end the first set and hand Djokovic his first set loss of the tournament, the Serb dominated the rest of the way to reach his ninth grand slam final.

Djokovic blasted 28 winners, double the total of Ferrer (30), over the last three sets and made just 20 errors against 31.

He was lethal whenever opportunity presented itself, converting six out of eight break point chances.

“We were all praying for less wind today,” said Djokovic, who has won the last three grand slams played on hard court.

“I think he handled the wind much better than I did. I came in today as a different player and I’m very happy to get to another grand slam final.”

Djokovic has made seven of the last nine grand slam finals, while Ferrer was denied his first trip to a championship match after his fifth opportunity as a grand slam semi-finalist.

The world number two improved his career record to nine to five against the hard-fighting Spaniard, who has won five tournament titles this season.

Ferrer thrived in the whipping winds on Saturday but despite his best efforts he could not find his top form.

“Every match is different, every day is different,” he said, still looking to reach his first grand slam men’s singles final.

After holding serve to claim the first set 6-2 once the match resumed under yesterdays sunshine, Ferrer was overpowered by Djokovic.

“Today, Djokovic, he plays better than me,” said Ferrer.

He lost the last three sets in less than two hours against a barrage of winners from the 25-year-old Serb.

Ferrer, who will return to Spain for this weekend’s Davis Cup semi-final against the United States, said that he was pleased with his showing in the year’s last slam.

“Of course I am very positive,” he said.

“I reached the semi-final in a grand slam, my second time in a semi-final here at the US Open.”

Ferrer enjoyed his best career season, winning his five tournament titles on three different surfaces and registering his top year in the grand slam events.

The Spaniard, who is known for his fierce competitiveness on the court, reached quarter-finals at the Australian Open, losing to Djokovic, he got to the semi-finals of the French and the quarter-finals of Wimbledon, where he fell to Murray.

At the US Open, he provided one of the most dramatic victories of the tournament by winning a fifth-set tiebreaker against Serbian Janko Tipsarevic in the quarter-finals.

Despite the disappointment of coming so close once again to reach a grand slam final, Ferrer clearly remained upbeat and positive.

“I am very happy with me and with my performance,” he said.