Full report: Murray on top form as he sets up mouthwatering semi-final with Federer

Andy Murray set up a mouthwatering semi-final clash with seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer after the Scot cruised past Canada's Vasek Pospisil in straight sets.

Murray had to overcome two rain interruptions on Centre Court but while Pospisil played above his lowly world ranking of 56, Murray's victory was never in doubt as he came through 6-4 7-5 6-4.

Federer, who beat France's Gilles Simon in the last eight, is gunning for a record eighth Wimbledon title.

Murray has not dropped a set in three consecutive victories over the Canadian, two of them coming this year, and there were few signs of the Briton changing that positive trend in the early stages on Centre Court.

Pospisil had never gone past the third round of a grand slam singles event before this tournament but the world number 56 has benefited from a generous section of the draw, which saw eighth seed David Ferrer withdraw through injury and two-time champion Rafael Nadal dumped out in the second round.

A five-set win on Monday over Queen's Club semi-finalist Viktor Troicki, however, confirmed the 25-year-old's competence on grass and Murray is only too aware of unwelcome surprises at this stage, after his shock quarter-final defeat to Grigor Dimitrov last year.

Watched by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as former England football captain David Beckham, perhaps the greatest threat to Murray's progress was the weight of expectation that he would not only win, but win comfortably too.

The British number one seemed more than at ease from the start, however, as a superb return and then a cute drop shot saw him break Pospisil's serve in the third game.

Murray held comfortably to open up a 3-1 lead, but just as the 28-year-old had established his advantage, the skies opened and play was suspended.

After a break of half an hour, the action resumed and while Pospisil was certainly not blown away, he made too many unforced errors to really put Murray under pressure.

The Scot served out with a flourish, as a superb backhand lob sparked the biggest cheer so far before he sealed the opening set 6-4 after 36 minutes of action.

Pospisil's plan was clear - to attack Murray's forehand and, whenever the chance came, charge the net where his volleying was precise and more reliable than his groundstrokes.

The Canadian enjoyed a strong spell at the start of the second set and he led 4-3 on serve when another shower stopped play for a second time, prompting the roof to be closed.

Typically, just as the roof was shut, blue skies emerged and the sun came out. But with further rain forecast - a fact emphasised by the tournament announcer - the decision seemed a wise one.

Murray was certainly unfazed, holding with ease upon the restart and then claiming an all-important break at 5-5 when his fizzing backhand pass was too good for the diving Pospisil to retrieve.

On the point before, Pospisil had been handed a time violation by umpire Pascal Maria and he seemed distracted by the decision, shaking his head at the change of ends, and then allowing Murray to serve out with ease as the Scot clinched the second set 7-5.

The timing of the warning, even if in the strict application of the rules, seemed cruel and Pospisil took a toilet break before saving two break points in the opening game of the third set.

Murray kept up the pressure on his opponent's serve but it was not until the ninth game that he finally struck as Maria handed Pospisil another time violation, this time costing him his first serve, before a sizzling Murray backhand gave the Briton the breakthrough.

Pospisil dug deep to extend the contest but after saving one match point he failed to survive another, and Murray seized his chance to book another meeting with Federer.