Britain’s Andy Murray and Serbian Novak Djokovic both suffered defeats to American opponents with Mardy Fish and Andy Roddick advancing to meet each other Saturday.

The only member of the top four to progress was third-seed Roger Federer, who meets a confident Baghdatis for a spot in Sunday’s final after defeating Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-4, 7-5.

Nadal was well below his best against an inspired Baghdatis, whose big serve was on full power — he blasted 18 aces while the Spaniard could manage just four.

The match turned decisively in favor of the Cypriot, who had lost all six previous meetings with Nadal when the Spaniard double-faulted at break point with the game at 4-4 in the third.

It was a mistake Nadal described as “criminal” and the 20th ranked Baghdatis served out for the win, giving himself a major confidence boost ahead of the US Open, which begins on Aug. 30.

“I’m playing good; I’m feeling happy on court. I’m out of injuries. It’s nice when you wake up and you don’t have pain somewhere,” said the Cypriot, beaten finalist in Washington earlier this month.

An All-American semifinal is a timely boost for the game in the US which is currently without a top ten male player — although Roddick’s win assures he is back to at least ninth in next week’s rankings.

Roddick and Fish are close friends who, since their high school days, have spent many hours together practicing.

“There won’t be many secrets that’s for sure,” Roddick said after beating third-ranked Serb Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, his booming serve looking back to its best.

“We know each other probably better than any other two guys on the tour,” added Roddick, who has been struggling for fitness and recently revealed he has been hampered by mononucleosis.

Fish took advantage of an exhausted world No. 4 Murray, who wilted in 100-degree heat (38 Celsius) and lost 6-7, 6-1, 7-6 to the unseeded American.

Fish, ranked 36th in the world, has now beaten the Briton in three successive meetings following victories in Miami and at Queen’s Club, London.

Fourth seed Murray won the opening set tiebreak despite producing his first double-fault at 5-5 but the tired Scot then struggled in a one-sided second set.

Both players held serve throughout the decider and Fish emerged victorious against a frustrated Murray who, after losing a rally on the penultimate point, thrashed the ball out of the stadium.
 
Injured Clijsters bows out 

In Montreal, an injured Kim Clijsters hobbled to a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 quarterfinal loss to Vera Zvonareva at the Montreal Cup on Friday, casting doubt on the Belgian’s ability to defend her US Open crown.

As Clijsters was being questioned later about her fitness, world number two Caroline Wozniacki - the player the Belgian beat last year to win the US Open - was sending a message of her own by blasting her way into the semi-finals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over French Open champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy.

The Dane had extra reason to smile after learning that she will likely be seeded No. 1  at the US Open after Serena Williams announced she would sit out the year’s final grand slam while recovering from foot surgery.

“It’s something special to be the first seed at a grand slam,” Wozniacki told reporters. “But it doesn’t really matter for me if I am first seed or second seed.

“It’s just a number when you’re on the court. I just want to beat every single one of the girls that are in my way, that will be my goal.”

Wozniacki will next face in-form Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, who booked her semifinal spot with a ruthless 6-1, 6-3 win over China’s Zheng Jie.

The first Russian woman to win the US Open, Kuznetsova is also hitting her stride on the North American hardcourts, claiming her 13th career title in San Diego two weeks ago.

The other semifinal will pit Wimbledon finalist Zvonareva against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who moved on with a 6-2, 7-6 win over Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli.