Rafa Nadal recovered after a marathon tiebreak setback to book a semi-final meeting with Andy Murray in a high-tension triumph over France's Richard Gasquet in the Toronto Masters Friday.

Spain's Wimbledon and French Open champion overcame 10th-seeded Gasquet 6-7 (12/14), 6-2, 6-1 but required 2hrs, 14min to claim his 59th victory of the season.

Rafa roared back after losing the 75-minute opening set, which Gasquet claimed on his sixth set point after saving two set points for Rafa.

"It was a very tough first set," Rafa said. "I had chances, I was up a a break twice.

"But Richard played well to beat me in the set. In the second I had to stay positive and concentrated."

Murray, seeded eighth, cut short the title defense of Serbian Novak Djokovic, the eighth-seeded Scot stunning the number three by a 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) scoreline.

Murray made quick work of Djokovic - who beat Roger Federer and Nadal en route to the title last year - wrapping up an impressive victory in 1hr 44min.

"It's a big win mentally for me, the last three times I played him I lost pretty badly," Murray said.

"Rafa is always going to be a big win. It gives you confidence, especially when you've lost to him three or four times beforehand.

"I want to try and keep this sort of form."

Murray reversed a run of four straight losses against Djokovic.

"He's one of the best players, you can't make many errors against him and expect to win," added Murray, who saved a set point in the 10th game of the second set.

"If he had converted that, the momentum could have changed."