Kevin Anderson will play for his first Grand Slam title after he beat Pablo Carreno Busta in four sets in their US Open semi-final on Friday.

The 28th-seeded Anderson dropped the first set but powered past the 12th-seeded Spaniard 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 in a match that lasted almost three hours on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Anderson, No.32 in the world, will be the lowest-ranked man to play for the title at Flushing Meadows since the ATP rankings began in 1973 and the first South African since Cliff Drysdale in 52 years.

He will face either world No.1 Rafael Nadal or 24th-seeded Juan Martin del Potro in Sunday’s final.

Carreno Busta was also in his first major semi-final and hadn’t dropped a set in reaching it.

But he was constantly under pressure on his serve, while Anderson used his power to pound 22 aces to accompany 58 winners.