Wawrinka wins epic game but loses marathon match to Novak Djokovic

Stanislas Wawrinka captured a marathon third game in the fifth set of his US Open semi-final with Novak Djokovic, but the effort expended to hold serve over 21 minutes set the stage for his defeat.

World number one Djokovic advanced to his 12th grand slam final with a 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph after four hours and nine minutes, but only after battling back once Wawrinka won the epic 30-point, 12-deuce game.

"It was back and forth, but even though I lost that game, I felt like, OK, he's getting a little bit more tired and maybe this is my chance to step in, and that's what I did," Djokovic said.

Wawrinka was weary while Djokovic was nervous, especially as he went through break point after break point failing to capitalise.

"That game, I was already quite tired," Wawrinka said. "I was already quite dead physically. I was just trying to stay with him and to fight and to give everything that I had in my body. But it was a tough, tough fifth set for sure."

Wawrinka denied the six-time grand slam champion's first break chance with a forehand winner, thwarted the next with a service winner and Djokovic netted a backhand to squander a third.