Murray too good for Nadal

Andy Murray overpowered Rafael Nadal to reach the final of the ATP Rogers Cup in Toronto on Saturday night.

The defending champion defeated the world number one and top seed 6-3 6-4 in one hour and 44 minutes to exact a measure of revenge for his Wimbledon semi-final defeat to the Spaniard earlier this summer.

Murray, who crushed in-form David Nalbandian on Friday, bringing the Argentinian's 11-game winning streak to a shuddering halt, broke serve once in the first set and twice in the second, in which he immediately reasserted his authority after Nadal had threatened to mount a comeback.

The 23-year-old, who has preserved his world number four ranking by reaching the final, could only manage 46% of first serves, but more than matched the two-time Wimbledon champion for power and energy.

He broke for the first time to go 5-3 up in the opener and then held his serve in emphatic fashion, three straight aces putting him 40-0 up, to see out the set.

The Scot broke again to go 2-1 up in the second set, but a huge Nadal forehand gave the Spaniard two chances to break back and level at 3-3.

Murray saved the first break point only to have no answer to another booming Nadal forehand.

The world number one had points to break for a second time but Murray dug deep to make it 4-4 and then established a 40-0 lead in the ninth game, duly breaking to move within a game of victory.

And he comfortably served out the match to set up a meeting with Roger Federer, who beat second seed Novak Djokovic.