体坛英语新闻：Federer, Nadal and Murray advance in Madrid Masters

MADRID, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all advanced into the last four at the Madrid Masters on Friday.

    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.

A ball girl looks as Roger Federer of Switzerland uses a towel during his match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina at the Madrid Masters Series tennis tournament in Madrid October 17, 2008

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 U.S. 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.