Hard-hitting Milos Raonic dismantled Fabio Fognini in straight sets, while Julien Benneteau upset third-seed Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals of the Western and Southern Open on Friday.

The fifth-seed Raonic took only 57 minutes to dispose the 15th-seed Fognini in a one-sided match, 6-1, 6-0.

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The 23-year-old Raonic delivered seven services aces and broke the Italian six times to go through the semis against 2nd-seed Roger Federer.

"I tried to take advantage of his little slumps," Raonic said.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer had little trouble defeating Britain's No. 1 Andy Murray 6-3, 7-5. It took him an hour and 33 minutes to eliminate the 8th seed.

The 33-year-old Federer got off to a fast start as he broke Murray to go up by a set before a comeback was staged by the Brit in the second set to lead at 4-1.

Federer rallied five straight points and served out for the match.

"I started the match off pretty slow," Murray said. "It was good to play against someone like Roger's quality before the US Open."

"I hit the ball well, I was the more aggressive guy out there," said Federer.

Federer is five for five against the Canadian Raonic.

"I've had some tough ones against him," Federer said. "It's pretty simple against a big server. I've got to use variety and make him move."

On the other side of the quarterfinal round, Benneteau pulled a surprise on the Australian Open champion 1-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Wawrinka got off to a quick start by winning the first set in just 20 minutes, but as soon as he started the second set, a string of unforced errors plagued him.

In the third set alone, Wawrinka committed 18 unforced errors against the five of Benneteau.

"It was a strange match, for sure," said Wawrinka. "I wasn't playing well. I wasn't moving well."

Benneteau faces David Ferrer next, his first semifinals appearance in the tournament.

TagsMilos Raonic, Roger Federer, andy murray, Stan Wawrinka, David Ferrer