Rafael Nadal defeated Andy Murray in straights sets, 7-6 6-3 in the semi-finals of the Masters Series event in Toronto early this morning. That was no surprise, for Nadal, the French Open and Wimbledon champion, was his usual formidable self. What was surprising, and hugely encouraging for Murray and his future prospects, was that he ran Nadal much closer than in any of their four previous matches. This was a close encounter, a battle almost between equals.

Murray, who has beaten Roger Federer and, most recently, Novak Djokovic, has never before looked capable of causing Nadal much inconvenience, let alone beating him. But after this performance it at least seems a possibility that he could beat the Spaniard. At times, Murray outplayed Nadal and it was Nadal's unyielding competitiveness that saw him through.

Nadal, of course, also had his own very positive motivation: he is rapidly closing in on Roger Federer's long-held official position as the world's number one player. This was his 28th successive victory.

The final, which should take him yet closer, looks like a formality. In the other semi-final, Nicolas Kiefer of Germany made a meal of beating an exhausted Gilles Simon, the conqueror of Federer earlier in the week. Time and again, Kiefer had Simon on the ropes, only to let him off again. He finally prevailed in three long sets, 6-7 6-3 7-6. Kiefer is 31 and has done well to recover from a succession of injuries. He will be playing his first final in three years, and has not won one since the year 2000. His fluctuating levels of play against Simon suggest that he has little chance.

Murray began the match where he had left off against Djokovic. Having lost the first two points in his opening service game, he won three well-contested points in succession and finished the game with a clean ace. In Nadal's opening service game, Murray also made a mark, unleashing his trademark double-handed backhand for a clean winner off a first serve from Nadal. The Spaniard never moved as the ball flashed past him, so well was it timed. First note: nothing to choose between the two antagonists.

Their two latest encounters, both won easily by Nadal, were on clay in Hamburg and grass at Wimbledon. Here was a chance for Murray to take on Nadal on a hard-court surface which is his favourite and on which Nadal has often struggled. Murray brought out his best game in those early stages and seemed thoroughly at home.

Murray was not in the least intimidated, and was hitting more winners than Nadal and from both wings. A succession of forehand winners caught Nadal by surprise and left him flat-footed. As Murray held his first six service games, leaving Nadal to have to hold his own delivery to reach the tie-break, the Scot seemed the more relaxed and purposeful, and even more powerful. It was an exemplary first set by Murray, until the tie-break.

When that came, Nadal made no mistakes while Murray's forehand, which had been so productive, let him down. A couple of errors put him in trouble and a double-fault handed the set to Nadal.

Murray, who had winced once or twice in the later stages of the first set, was attended to by the trainer, who sprayed and taped his right knee. Murray, though, did not seem inhibited or overly concerned at the prospect of coming from a set down against Nadal, as he fashioned two break points in the first game of the second set.

But the British No 1 was soon in further trouble, dropping his serve for the first time in the match in the fourth game of the second set. It was Nadal's first break point and it was tamely conceded by Murray, who dumped a backhand into the net.

That looked ominous, but Murray immediately broke Nadal's service, again for the first time. Nadal, who was warned for slow play on break point, was unsettled and served a double-fault to lose the game.

It was a last act of defiance, though, for Nadal soon broke again and was on his way to a hard-won two-hour victory.