Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their match at the Madrid Masters Series tennis tournament in Madrid yesterday.-Xinhua/Reuters

Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all advanced into the last four at the Madrid Masters yesterday.

Nadal and Federer were on course to clash in another final after winning their quarterfinals in straight sets.

Top-ranked Nadal downed Spanish countryman Feliciano Lopez 6-4,6-4 while second-ranked Federer eliminated ninth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-3.

Fourth-seeded Andy Murray beat Gael Monfils of France 6-2, 6-2.

In Saturday's semifinals, Nadal will meet Gilles Simon of France or Ivo Karlovic of Croatia, who were playing a late match, while Federer will tackle Murray in a replay of the US Open final.

Murray was broken by Monfils in the opening game, but the Scot broke straight back and twice more to take the first set. The second set followed a similar pattern.

Murray lost to Federer in straight sets in his first Grand Slamfinal a month ago, but Federer was expecting a harder match.