Rain causes a pain for star of Spain but British girls march on

Rafael Nadal's bid for his first US Open title has been disrupted by strong winds and rain which forced his quarter-final with 11th seed Fernando Gonzalez to be halted last night with the Spaniard leading 7-6 and 3-2 up in the second-set tiebreak.

Nadal, struggling once again with an abdominal strain, was desperate to get the match completed to allow his aching body a full day's rest. Instead, he and Gonzalez were kept until midnight before play was finally called off.

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who contest the other semi-final, have 24 hours longer to recover after completing their quarter-finals on Wednesday.

There are concerns that further rain is likely to interrupt today's women's semi-finals between Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters and Caroline Wozniacki against Yanina Wickmayer, which could force the final to be delayed 24 hours until Sunday.

Last year, the lack of a roof saw Andy Murray's final against Roger Federer put back until the Monday, causing logistical problems for everyone involved.

Juan Martin Del Potro only had to overcome windy conditions to defeat Marin Cilic 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 in the earlier quarter-final as he showed the kind of passion and power Murray lacked against the Croat in the previous round.

This will be Del Potro's second grand slam semi-final, following this year's French Open clash with eventual champion Federer, who beat him in five sets.

Meanwhile, Britain's Laura Robson lost her serve twice but broke Belgian 12th seed Tamaryn Hendler four times to register a hugely impressive 6-2, 6-1 victory and will take on American Lauren Davis in the US Open girls' quarter-finals.

"I liked her game style," Robson said of Hendler. "I liked how she hit it hard, it was easier for me. I was looking to hit percentage shots rather than going for the lines, so I think that's why it seemed a bit more fluid."

Robson was followed on to court by fellow British youngster Heather Watson (left) who beat Germany's Annika Beck 6-4, 7-5.

Watson's last-eight opponent will be second seed, Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, of Thailand, who was beaten by Robson in last year's Wimbledon girls' final.