Roger Federer [ Images ] and Rafael Nadal [ Images ] were one match away from their first clash of the season on Friday after clinical wins in the Monte Carlo quarter-finals.

Swiss world number one Federer outclassed David Ferrer of Spain 6-1, 6-3 in just 61 minutes while defending champion and number two Nadal defeated Argentine Guillermo Coria 6-2, 6-1 on Centre Court.

"I fought well today. I'm satisfied with my performance," said the 19-year-old Spaniard, who missed the Australian Open [ Images ] won by Federer through a left foot injury in January.

The French Open [ Images ] champion picked up his 40th consecutive win on clay which puts him joint third with Austrian Thomas Muster of Austria on the all-time list headed by Argentine Guillermo Vilas who won 53 in a row.

Nadal will face Gaston Gaudio in the semi-finals after the seventh-seeded Argentine, winner of the 2004 French Open, defeated Spain's Tommy Robredo [ Images ] 6-1, 6-3.

"Gaudio is a real clay specialist and he played a very impressive game against Robredo," Nadal said.

Coria, who won the Monte Carlo Open in 2004 and was Nadal's final opponent last season, is also a staunch clay-court basline player but his only impact on the match was to lead 2-0 in the first set after an early break of serve.

Nadal won 11 games in a row to lead 6-2, 5-0 before Coria escaped an humiliating 6-0 defeat with a last-gasp effort and saved two match points in the next game. The Spaniard sealed the match on the third.

Federer clinched his quarter-final on his first match point dominating eighth seed Ferrer throughout.

"It's my first tournament on clay but I have been practising with the French Open in mind for six months and I felt well physically today," said the Swiss, who is still chasing his first win at Roland Garros [ Images ].

Federer's semi-final opponent will be Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia [ Images ] or Fernando Gonzalez [ Images ] of Chili who were facing each other in the last quarter-final.

"If I had to choose, I would pick Lubijic because I defeated him everytime we met but both of them are playing well and it will be a difficult match," he said.