Kei Nishikori defeated Rafael Nadal for the first time, the fourth seed earning a convincing 6-2 6-4 victory in the Rogers Cup quarter-finals.

Fourth seed Nishikori broke his duck against Nadal in what was their eighth meeting, rushing the 14-time major winner constantly, as the Japanese earned a semi-final berth in just one hour, 22 minutes.

After two thrilling quarter-finals earlier on Friday that saw each of Novak Djokovic and Jeremy Chardy win after saving match points, the clash between the world number four and nine was surprisingly one-sided.

While Nadal pulled out a stunning 143-kilometre forehand winner on the run in the second game, it was Nishikori who broke first in the third game - and followed it up again with another in the Spaniard's next service attempt before serving out the opening set with consummate ease.

Nishikori, who finished with 16 forehand winners to Nadal's nine, threatened to put the match to the sword when taking a double-break 4-1 lead in the second set, but the three-time Rogers Cup winner did not give up without a fight.

Nadal immediately pulled one break back, and had Nishikori sweating at 30-30 in the eighth game - but the Japanese maturely held firm.

Nishikori won 39 points when the rallies were five shots or fewer, compared to Nadal's 26.

In the day's other quarter-final, Andy Murray ousted defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 6-4.

Murray needed just the lone break in either set to prevail, the Briton saving all three break points he faced for the duration to progress to the semi-finals of the event for the first time since his title win here in 2010.

The result also saw him avenge his loss to Tsonga in Toronto 12 months ago.