JOIN USRafael Nadal overcame a stiff test from compatriot David Ferrer to reach the Madrid Masters semi-finals, but there was no such luck for Andy Murray who was beaten 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 by Tomas Berdych.
Defeats for Murray and Ferrer mean that the world's top four have all been eliminated following earlier exits for Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
World number five Nadal, who is now the favourite for a third title in the Spanish capital, had to come from a set and a break down to win 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-0 over world number four Ferrer.
And the 11-time Grand Slam champion admitted that recovering a break when Ferrer led 4-2 in the second set was the key moment.
"I was up and down through the whole match and when you are up and down against David it is difficult to win," said Nadal, who had also been two points from defeat in the 12th game of the second set. I am very happy and I was lucky to come through at the end of the match. He was very unlucky not to be in the semi-finals. At a set and 4-2 down I am not worried, I am very worried."
Despite being seeded above Nadal, due to the seven-time French Open winner's seven-month injury lay-off, Ferrer was still left nursing a record of just four wins in their 22 meetings.
Victory took the 2005 and 2010 Madrid champion's record to 29-2 since he returned to action in early February, and the Spaniard can reach his seventh consecutive final when he faces wildcard Pablo Andujar in another all Spanish affair in the semi-finals.
World number 113 Andujar reached a first Masters semi-final with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Roger Federer's conqueror in the last round, Kei Nishikori.