Murray Edged Out By Inspired Nadal

Andy Murray's hopes of winning the Madrid Masters were brought to an end tonight after a thrilling match with world number two Rafael Nadal. Murray had been hugely impressive in winning his opening two matches in the Spanish capital, but he fell at the third round stage for the second successive year after losing a thrilling encounter 7-6, 6-4.

Murray, who won the opening five games of the first set against previous opponent Juan Ignacio Chela while dropping just one point on his serve, was again quickly out of the blocks against Nadal. The British number one started the match off with an ace - one of seven for him in the opening set, compared to just one for Nadal - before taking the first game comfortably.

Murray then put Nadal under tremendous pressure in the Spaniard's first service game, and the home favorite needed to save three break points to level the contest up at 1-1. Those two contrasting service games set the tone for much of the opening set, with Murray looking dominant on his serve and Nadal being pushed to the limit on his.

Nadal gradually worked his way back into the set though, and he earned his first break point in the ninth game. Murray saved that, but he lost his next service game to allow Nadal to take a 6-5 lead and a chance to serve out for the set. Murray bounced back in style though, breaking the 2005 Madrid Masters champion to love to send the opening set to a tie-break.

The Scot again looked to hold the upper hand in the tie-break after breaking Nadal early on, but the second seed turned the tide before clinching the set, the Spaniard's winning shot being greeted by a standing ovation from the Madrid crowd and an emphatic celebration from Nadal.

The second set started with three consecutive breaks of serve, two by Murray, who then held in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Nadal took the next game and he had a great chance to level the scores up at 3-3 when he earned four break-points on Murray's serve, but the Scot dug deep to win the game and take a 4-2 advantage.

Murray then had two break points in the next game to go 5-2 ahead, but he failed to take them as Nadal held serve to reduce the deficit to 4-3. It proved to be a crucial stage of the match.

The two players produced a memorable encounter in their only previous meeting, with Nadal eventually winning a thrilling five-setter at the Australian Open in January, and there was little to separate the pair again tonight as Nadal broke back to level the set at 4-4. Nadal then held his own serve before breaking Murray to take the set and the match and progress through to a quarter-final meeting with David Nalbandian.