Three-time Rogers Cup champion Rafael Nadal bowed out of the prestigious tournament Friday against fourth seed Kei Nishikori who trounced the Spaniard 6-2, 6-4. Despite a good comeback win in Hamburg last month, Nadal didn't have much to give against the Japanese whose speed and fiery groundstrokes dominated the match and closed it in just 82 minutes.

Like Us on Facebook

Nishikori broke Nadal's serve twice in the first set and won all his break point opportunites thereafter for his 46th win of the year and first win against the former world no. 1 in eight meetings.

"[Nadal] wasn't making many first serves tonight, so I knew I had to be more aggressive on the second serve," Nishikori said as reported by the ATP World Tour website. "Everything was working well, so I am very happy to win today. I was close in Madrid, but today I was dominating everything. I definitely needed to change some of my tactics when playing against Rafa. I had to play 100 percent to beat him."

The win brings Nishikori to his fifth Masters 1000 semi-final appearance and a possible second Masters 1000 final this year if he beats two-time Rogers Cup winner Andy Murray on Saturday.

Murray got past defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 6-4 while bagging an impressive 24 winners and committing only 14 unforced errors.

"A lot of the crowd stayed and that really helped me get motivated," said Murray as quoted by The Guardian. "They created a good atmosphere out there and I appreciate everyone staying. I passed well. I came up with some good passing shots and that was the difference today."

Nadal's 2015 season, meanwhile, has yet to savor an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title, a feat he has been achieving for the past 10 years but failed to do so this year due to confidence issues that gave way to a lackluster performance.

Tennis experts believe, however, that his best form will surface just in time for the US Open. Barry Cowan, a former British tennis player who now covers the sport for a UK sporting channel, commented that Nadal "actually played good tennis" this year.

"I think the test from Rafa will come when he gets a big win," Cowan said. "Will he be able to build on that? I believe he will. I think for Rafa now, there's only one way to go and that's up.

Tagsrafael nadal, Rafael Nadal Rogers Cup, Rafael Nadal news, rogers cup news, rogers cup results, rogers cup scores, rafael nadal us open, rogers cup montreal, Kei Nishikori, andy murray, andy murray rogers cup