Murray: Chance to lead 5-2

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Andy Murray's promising run at the Madrid Masters was ended on Thursday night when he lost to Rafael Nadal in a thrilling third round match.

The Scot held his own for much of the contest but succumbed 7-6 6-4 to the delight of the partisan crowd.

"I had chances and I didn't take them," said Murray. "I played pretty well. It was a long match with a lot of tough points.

"It could have gone either way. I'm disappointed to lose but it was a good match, I learned from it.

"I'm happy that I'm back playing at this level and giving the world number two a great match."

Held serve

Murray, who had breezed through his two opening matches as he continues to rebuild his season following a wrist injury, started well and consistently held serve with ease while pressuring that of Nadal.

However, the 21-year-old was the first to lose his serve in the 11th game but it spurred him to break back immediately to force the tie-break.

But despite going up a mini-break, Nadal hit back to take the set 7-5 before some erratic play at the start of the second that saw three service games go against the head.

Murray was a break up - and even held serve for a 4-2 lead despite huge pressure from his opponent - before almost breaking again in the seventh game.

Leading 40-15, Murray failed to capitalise as the second seed eventually held serve before finally breaking back in the next to level the scores at 4-4.

And the end came soon enough for the Scot, who lost the last four games as Nadal broke again to clinch the match and a place in the last eight.

"It was a great match for me," said Nadal. "I played well when I had to.

"The first set was very important, the second set very tough, it was very competitive. It was draining physically.

"I'm happy to have survived and very happy to be in the quarter-finals."