Andy Murray has claimed that Rafael Nadal is "probably the greatest player to play tennis" after the Spaniard knocked him out of the US Open at the semi-final stage yesterday.

World number two Nadal set up a final against Novak Djokovic tomorrow evening with a four-set victory over Murray at Flushing Meadows.

After the match, 24-year-old Murray hailed his conqueror, while also admitting that he could have performed better.

"He's probably the greatest player to play tennis so it's easy from the sidelines to say how you should play against him," said Great Britain's number one.

"I don't know if I didn't want to play too many long rallies because I had a long game yesterday but it's the only way to win against him. Playing one-two tennis against him doesn't work because he makes too many balls.

"There are many things I could have done a bit better tonight - but I didn't."

Murray was aiming to reach his second final in New York, having lost to Roger Federer in 2008.