• Madrid Masters

Gutsy Murray defeated by fabulous Ferrer in classic

Andy Murray just did not have enough against David Ferrer © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Nadal completes magnificent clay-court hat-trick
  
• News: Murray upbeat about French Open after Ferrer loss
  
• News: Nadal exposed in semi-final win over Almagro
  
• News: Murray back to his best in defeat of Hanescu
  
• News: Murray clicks into gear to claim impressive Madrid win
  
• Profile: Andy Murray

Birthday boy Andy Murray played some exceptional tennis but it was not enough to overcome clay specialist David Ferrer in an epic quarter-final at the Madrid Masters. Murray turns 23 on Saturday, but he will not have a semi-final with Roger Federer to contest after losing 7-5 6-3 to Ferrer.

On nine out of 10 points Murray was the equal of his Spanish opponent, but the big points were won by Ferrer in the best match seen at the tournament all week. Time and again Murray took Ferrer to deuce on his own serve, only to lack the killer touch at the vital moment.

Much like their Rome meeting two weeks ago, Murray will have left the court knowing he struck the ball well in Madrid but, like Rafael Nadal, Ferrer is a frustratingly difficult foe to overcome. The Briton won over 75 percent of points when his first serve landed in, yet that still was not enough to earn him his first clay victory over the world No. 12.

Murray went into the match with the most impressive statistics of the week. His first-serve points percentage was higher than any other at 87 percent, while his return stats topped all others - winning nine of 16 games. But he came across a player in Ferrer who was on top of his game, highlighted by one particular sumptuous backhand down the line - usually one of his less consistent shots.

The first set deserved to head to a tiebreak as both players tested each other to the limit, Murray battling back from a break down to level at 5-5. However, he could not hold serve at 6-5, and Ferrer stole an advantage.

Nobody has won more clay court matches than Ferrer this season, yet in four consecutive service games he was forced to draw on all his reserves to hold Murray at bay. He did so crucially in the first game of the second set and, after a wonderful crosscourt forehand return, he broke Murray for a third time in the match to claim a 2-0 advantage.

If there is a lesson to be learned by Murray, it surely must be that he cannot afford to put the ball in the middle of the court against the top clay court players. Too often against Ferrer, the Briton began the point by simply fending the ball into the centre of the court, suffering a slow painful death as the Spaniard worked his magic.

Murray did summon a mini-revival, gift-wrapped by two Ferrer double-faults that helped the world No. 4 restore parity at 3-3, and then the pair went toe-to-toe in a tennis tug-o-war. Murray lashed a forehand winner deep into the corner, Ferrer responded with an angled inside-out forehand that defied logic.

In the end, the effects of the two hour war took their toll on the Briton, who sent a forehand long to allow Ferrer to serve for the match. In front of a football-like atmosphere, the home favourite finally ended the battle of attrition, but Murray leaves with a huge deal of respect.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.