Jamie Murray and Liezel Huber believe their mixed doubles partnership has the makings of a successful team after reaching the semi-finals of the US Open in their first tournament together.

Murray missed out on a second consecutive grand slam mixed doubles final in New York when he and Huber fell to Meghann Shaughnessy and Leander Paes on Tuesday night.

The British Davis Cup player, who won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon with Jelena Jankovic, and world doubles number one Huber let a one-set lead and then a second-set match point slip away as the American-Indian team won on a Champions' tie-break, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5), 10-5.

It was the first time Murray had joined up with Huber, who this year has won the women's doubles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

He had originally intended to team up with Jankovic again, only for the Serbian to decide to concentrate on the singles.

Asked whether she and Murray could become a successful team, Huber said: ''I think we could. This is our first grand slam, making the semi, and that's okay.

''I got to 11 first rounds before I got to the Wimbledon final so for Jamie to be in his second mixed doubles it's pretty good.

''I think some guys are better at mixed and he's one of those who understands what's required out there. So it would be good to play together again.''

World number two Rafael Nadal's hopes of adding the US Open to his French Open crown were dashed by fellow Spaniard David Ferrer yesterday morning.

The 15th-seeded Ferrer defeated the tournament's second seed 6-7 6-4 7-6 6-2 in a fourth-round encounter that lasted three hours and 38 minutes and ended at 1.50am local time.

Ferrer will now go on to play 20th seed Juan Ignacio Chela in the quarter-finals.