Rafael Nadal admitted it was "so important" for him to reach the final of the US Open after defeating Juan Martin del Potro.

The Spaniard was second best as he lost the opening set but turned things around, at one stage winning nine games in a row on his way to a 4-6 6-0 6-3 6-2 victory.

It means he now has the chance to win a 16th Grand Slam title and will be playing for his third US Open crown, having previously won in New York in both 2010 and 2013.

This year has signalled somewhat of a renaissance for Nadal, with him appearing to have put his injury woes behind him on his way to making the finals at both the Australian and French Opens, the latter of which he won.

The 31-year-old admits reaching Sunday's showpiece at Flushing Meadows, where he will face South African Kevin Anderson, is hugely important to him, especially having struggled at times against Del Potro.

"It means a lot," said Nadal. "It has been an amazing season of course after a couple with injures and troubles.

"To be back here in front of this amazing crowd, on this amazing court, and to have the chance to fight for another title is so important to me."

He added: "I changed a couple of things after the first set. I was playing too much to his backhand and I knew that I had to change and move him more and be more unpredictable. It worked really well and I am very happy."