• Internazionali BNL d'Italia

Lucky net cord intervention settles Murray v Nalbandian

Andy Murray played aggressively against David Nalbandian © Getty Images

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• Profile: Andy Murray | David Nalbandian

Andy Murray showed no sign of the back problem that kept him out of last week's Madrid Open as he battled for over two-and-a-half hours to score a birthday win over David Nalbandian, ultimately gifted to him by a fortunate net cord deep into the third set at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

Murray expressed his relief that he did not compete at the Madrid event, won by Roger Federer, following a week that saw several players moan at the new blue surface. Returning to the traditional red dirt for his first clay-court meeting with Nalbandian, the Brit dealt with a stubborn opponent in a match he might previously have lost as he impressed in a 6-1 4-6 7-5 victory.

A high quality match was all square at 5-5 in the third set with Nalbandian 30-40 down, having staged a fine second-set comeback. However, with little to separate the players Murray saw a backhand tug at the top of the net, before dropping over into his rival's side of the court to set up victory.

Nalbandian carried the better record into Tuesday's match, having reached the final of the Rome event back in 2004. However, he had lost his most recent four matches against Murray and trailed the overall head-to-head 4-2.

The challenge for Murray is to show he can improve the aggression in his game ahead of the French Open, where he has been too placid in the past. Certainly on this showing he is attempting to mix things up for the 2012 iteration of Roland Garros, stepping well inside the baseline to take the ball early against Nalbandian.

A break arrived for the world No. 4 in Nalbandian's first service game and, after producing a well-constructed point to save a break chance in the next, Murray cemented a 3-0 lead. That advantage then became 4-0 as Nalbandian failed to win any of the first six points on his second serve.

A momentary lapse saw Murray broken to love in the next game, but he continued to meet the ball early, penetrating his rival's delivery again for 5-1 after a marathon back-and-forth on deuce. The Scot earned himself the chance to serve out for the set, which he successfully managed to love.

Nalbandian became a far more stubborn prospect in the second, turning to a catalogue of drop shots to disturb the rhythm of the match. The tactic worked as the set progressed on serve to the tenth game, when he converted his third set point on the Murray serve - much to the visible anger of the Brit.

Murray responded early in the third, creating two breaks points only to see them defended by Nalbandian. Instead it was the former world No. 3 who moved ahead 3-1, only to be pegged back immediately as a backhand volley saw Murray break to love for 3-2.

By now both players were drawing gasps from the crowd, Nalbandian with flat forehand winners and exquisite lobs, Murray with his subtle ability to take the pace off the ball. With the scores locked at 5-5 in the third Murray got his moment of fortune from the net cord, and he then saved two break points as he served out for the match.

Murray will now face either 16th seed Richard Gasquet or local wild card Paolo Lorenzi in the last 16 on Thursday.

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