Defending champion Rafael Nadal beat Fabio Fognini to move into the semi-finals of the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

World number two Nadal, seeking a fifth Rogers Cup title, started slowly before dispatching the Italian 2-6 6-1 6-2.

The Spaniard faces Gael Monfils or Roberto Bautista Agut, who will return on Saturday to complete their rain delayed match – Monfils was 30-0 up in the first game when play was suspended.

Russian pair Daniil Medvedev and Karen Khachanov meet in the other semi-final.

“It was an up-and-down match, but a positive match for me because I played better and better as it went on,” Nadal said.

Eighth-seeded Medvedev breezed past Austrian second seed Dominic Thiem 6-3 6-1 while Khachanov overcame German number three seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 6-3.

• Live scores, schedule and results
• Alerts: Get tennis news sent to your phone