Britain's Andy Murray upset world No 1 Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday, advancing the defending champion into the final of the $2.4 million ATP Toronto Masters.

The Scotsman was set to play on Sunday against Roger Federer, who beat Novak Djokovic 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 in the other semifinal. Murray hopes to become the first man since Andre Agassi in 1994 and 1995 to win back-to-back Canadian trophies.

The event boasts a rare VIP field with top four players in the world - Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray - all represented in the semifinals, a first for Canada in 23 years.

Murray's victory lifted him to 4-8 against Nadal after beating the Spaniard at the Australian Open earlier this year but losing to him in a Wimbledon semifinal last month.

"This is a surface I'm most comfortable on," Murray said of the hardcourt as he beat Nadal on the surface for the fourth time in five meetings.

"I enjoy playing aggressive, especially against the best players. I want to enjoy playing my game and expressing myself out on court. You never expect to beat the other top players. The margins are so thin.

"I go on court knowing that I have to play my best if I'm going to have a chance of beating them. I like playing Rafa on a hardcourt."

The world No 4 is still searching for his first title of the season after going down to Federer in the Melbourne final and missing his chance for a trophy a fortnight ago against Sam Querrey in the Los Angeles final.

The Scot stands 29-11 on the season and is nine months removed from the last of the six titles he earned in 2009, his November success indoors in Valencia.

Nadal, the reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion, lost for only the sixth time this season.

"Overall I'm feeling good. I've won 34 of my last 36 matches and have played well all season," Nadal said.

"It's not a bad start for the hardcourt season. I had chances for the final and I'm not so far off my game. I just need to produce more chances to win."

Murray served two aces in the fifth game of the opening set and broke in the eighth.

He brought up set points in a game of three aces, converting on his second winning opportunity from Nadal's error.

The Scotsman won 14 of the last 19 points and fired eight aces as he staked his claim on the victory.

"Something was not right with my serve," Nadal said. "Andy was playing better than me. My serve was the worst thing about my game today. The rest of it is fine."