Milos Raonic hits a return to Rafael Nadal at Indian Wells.

Big-serving Milos Raonic fought back from a set down and saved three match points to upset Rafael Nadal 4-6 7-6 7-5 in a pulsating quarter-final at the BNP Paribas Open on Friday.

The 24-year-old Canadian’s first win over Nadal in six meetings earned him a place in the semi-finals where he will face Roger Federer, who cruised through the last eight with a ruthless 6-4 6-0 demolition of Czech Tomas Berdych.

“I feel obviously all sorts of good,” said sixth seed Raonic, who blasted 19 aces past Nadal before sealing victory in just under three hours.

“There was a lot of up and down through that match, and all I could ask of myself was just keep competing and hope to find a way. I got fortunate a few times and it worked out.”

Federer, bidding for a record fifth title at the ATP Masters 1000 event, broke Berdych once in the first set and three times in the second to advance after just 68 minutes on court at a sun-bathed Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

“I was really able to put the pressure on Tomas from the baseline,” the Swiss world number two said after hitting 21 winners while improving his career record against the Czech to 13-6.

“I felt like I was hitting the ball well but also playing the right way.

“I had the upper hand and he didn’t have his best serving day... I was able to control the match.”

Yesterday, Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray in the other semi-final 6-2 6-3, a re-match of this year’s Australian Open final won by the Serb in four sets.

Williams withdraws

Serena Williams withdrew before the start of her BNP Paribas Open semi-final due to a knee problem, cutting short her return to the event following a 14-year boycott.

Williams, who has been absent from Indian Wells since winning the event in 2001 when she says she suffered racist abuse from fans, said she would not be able to give her all for the remainder of the tournament and decided to pull out.

The decision put her opponent, Simona Halep, into the final against Jelena Jankovic, who beat Sabine Lisicki in three sets – 3-6 6-3 6-1.