Forgive Britain's Andy Murray if he is not giddy with delight about reaching his first Grand Slam semi-final by downing Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro in the US Open quarter-finals.

The 21-year-old Scotsman snapped the South American teen star's 23-match win streak Wednesday, ensuring he will jump to fourth in the ATP rankings, matching Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski for the highest spot held by any British man.

But with all due respect world number one Rafael Nadal, who will try to beat Murray on Saturday to reach his first US Open final, the British sixth seed has some unfinished business at Flushing Meadows - namely winning the tournament.

"I'm excited to be in the semi-finals but the tournament is still going. I want to try to win it. I don't want to lose in the semi-finals," Murray said.

"When you see all the winners of the US Open, you realize that winning is what really counts. That's what I'm going to try and do. I understand getting to the semis is a great achievement but I want to go a little bit further."

Murray dispatched the 19-year-old prodigy 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/1), 4-6, 7-5 after just under four grueling hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"There were some intense moments but I was just glad to come through," said Murray. "He was on an unbelievable winning streak. He had confidence. I knew I was going to have to fight a lot."

There was a bit of "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" aspect to Del Potro, the youngest US Open quarter-finalist since Andy Roddick in 2001.

He broke down in tears talking to reporters after the match, overcome by the stinging loss and aches from the match, notably in a left knee that required treatment during the match.

"I was feeling pain in all my body," Del Potro said. "I just did my best. We gave the people a good match. Andy is in good shape. He worked hard. He was better. He did everything. I played one of he best players in the world."

Murray could relate to the sadness of Del Potro, the first player to win his first four ATP titles in a row after taking US Open tuneups at Stuttgart, Kitzbuhel, Los Angeles and Washington.

"When it ends it's pretty emotional and pretty tiring to keep winning matches like that," Murray said. "He's probably upset he had his chance to get back into the match and didn't take it. He was struggling a bit at the end."

It was something of a grudge match. In their only prior ATP meeting at Rome in May, Del Potro retired in the third set but only after Murray rebuked him for a comment about Murray's mother, who was cheering her son from the stands.

"A lot was made of what happened in the last match but I said it wouldn't make any difference," Murray said. "At the end of the match he said he was sorry for what happened before and I said he played a great match.

"There was a feeling of respect between us."

Murray won the last six points of the first tie-breaker and dominated the second despite being broken at love just before it began. Murray began with two forehand winners and three errant Del Potro backhands later was ahead to stay.

"I played the big points great in the first two sets," Murray said. "When I broke a string on my racquet, I served a few double faults, lost my rhythm a little bit. It would have been easy to get down on myself but I didn't."

Del Potro, seeded 17th, broke Murray in the penultimate game of the third set and held to force a fourth. Fatigue gripped both men as they exchanged four early breaks, setting the stage for Murray's breakthrough in the last game.

"He was struggling a little bit at the end, trying to finish points quicker," Murray said. "Once I got a two-set lead I felt sure I would finish it. I didn't get too flustered. I kept my focus."

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