Defending champion Novak Djokovic has taken a two-sets-to-one lead in his U.S. Open semifinal against fourth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain in a match that was halted yesterday by the threat of severe weather and resumed this morning at the National Tennis Center in New York.

Djokovic, 25, from Serbia, who is trying to reach the final for the third consecutive year, won the third set 6-4 after taking the second set 6-1. Ferrer, 30, won the first set 6-2.

Ferrer was leading 5-2 in the first set yesterday when the match was stopped because of the weather.

The winner will play third-seeded Andy Murray, 25, of Britain, who swept into the men’s final yesterday with a blustery four-set victory against No. 6 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic that was delayed by rain and bedeviled by wind. Berdych had eliminated five-time champion Roger Federer of Switzerland in the quarterfinals.

Three-time champion Serena Williams, 30, of the U.S. will play top-seeded Victoria Azarenka, 23, of Belarus in the women’s

final later this afternoon. The match was postponed from last night because of the severe weather.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Rob Gloster at rgloster@bloomberg.net