Nadal will play in his his 23rd career Grand Slam final after beating Argentina's 24th-seeded del Potro 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2.

The 31-year-old - seeking his third US Open victory after 2010 and 2013 and a 16th career Slam title - will play Anderson, the 28th seed from South Africa, who beat Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.

Anderson over the moon

"I really don't know what to say right now," Anderson said. 

"I don't know if the team hug is the right thing to do for the finals but I felt it was the appropriate thing to do."

"It has been a long road. This means the world to me," Anderson said.

"This is why we work so hard. It was an unbelievably tough match for me.

"I'm over the moon. I'm happy to have another shot." 

Anderson, 31, admitted that he was stunned to have risen from 80th in the rankings in January when he appeared destined for hip surgery and a lost season in recovery.

jbh/sms (AP, AFP)