Defending champ Djokovic gets past Ferrer for 3rd US Open final in row; faces Murray on Monday

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The weather was much better at the U.S. Open on Sunday. So was Novak Djokovic.

Under a cloudless blue sky, in only a hint of wind, defending champion Djokovic reached his third consecutive final at Flushing Meadows by beating fourth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in a match suspended a day earlier.

Ferrer was ahead 5-2 in the semifinal's opening set Saturday, when wind was whipping at more than 20 mph. Djokovic was shaky, and play was halted because of an impending storm. He held serve to take that set Sunday — and then Djokovic quickly took control, using the brand of defence-to-offence baseline excellence that has carried the Serb to four of the past seven Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic faces Andy Murray in Monday's final.