( CNN ) -- Defending champion Roger Federer and world number two Rafael Nadal were sent crashing from the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati Friday . Federer , unbeaten at the hard court tournament since 2008 , went down tamely to eighth seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic , losing 6-2 7-6 in just over 90 minutes . Earlier , in-form Mardy Fish thrashed Nadal 6-3 6-4 to march into the semifinals in Ohio . Victory earned the seventh-seeded American a clash against fourth-ranked Andy Murray of Britain , who he beat in the corresponding tournament last year . The seventh seed , who pushed world number one Novak Djokovic all the way in the Montreal Masters final last week , continued that superb form against a listless Nadal . Fish claimed the early break against Nadal , who had been involved in a marathon tussle with fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco the previous evening , and never looked back . He wrapped up the first set in 43 minutes and broke through in the fifth game of the second as Nadal sent a forehand wide on break point against him . Fish , who was serving magnificently , never looked like surrendering the advantage and carved out three match points before winning it with a forehand passing shot after one hour 43 minutes . It was his first victory in seven attempts against the indominatable Nadal as he acknowledged in his post-match interview . `` He 's kicked my butt six times and it feels pretty good to have turned it around , '' he told Sky Sports . `` I 'm so much more confident right now and if I was to choose a surface and a court I would choose this one , '' he added . Murray , who crashed out in ignominious fashion in his opener in Montreal last week , has been showing much improved form and saw off France 's Gilles Simon 6-3 6-3 in an early morning encounter . `` It is good when you win to get it out of the way , '' Murray told Sky Sports . `` I managed to get through and look forward to the next one . '' But it was the defeat of Federer that proved the main talking point as the former world number one looked out of sorts from the start against the big-hitting Berdych . He was broken twice in the opening set and could not fashion a single break point . The second set was closer , but Berdych , who beat the Swiss star in the semifinals of Wimbledon last year , easily won the tiebreak 7-3 to progresss . He will play world number one Novak Djokovic , who was also given a scare before beating Gael Monfils in the night match . The French sixth seed took the first set , but his Serbian opponent recovered to win 3-6 6-4 6-3 in two and a half hours . `` It was a very physical match , but I hung in there and it was a good win , '' Djokovic told AFP . The win takes Djokovic to 56-1 for the year with his only defeat to Federer in the semifinals of the French Open .
NEW : Andy Murray survives scare to beat Gael Monfils in Britain . Champion Roger Federer beaten by Tomas Berdych quarterfinals . Roger Federer also shocks second seed Tomas Berdych in straight sets . He will play Britain 's Gilles Simon who beat Gilles Simon in straight sets .