World number two Rafael Nadal proved too strong for Andy Murray this evening as he defeated Murray 6-3, 6-2 in the third round of the Hamburg Masters.

Andy opened promisingly a he took his opening service game to love and pushed Nadal to 15-30. However, following a controversial point in which Nadal returned a drop-shot that Andy felt was not up. Yet the umpire ruled otherwise and Murray found himself down 15-40 on his serve. Nadal took his first break point and went on to win the opening set on a second break of serve.

The second set, again, opened well for the birthday boy as Andy took advantage of a lapse of concentration from the Spaniard and took the opening break. But he failed to consolidate and, finding himself firmly on the back foot he was unable to get back into the match and Nadal again won the set with a break of serve.

It was a match of forehands and the world number two’s was too good and Murray’s failed him on a number of occasions. Another tournament ends and that elusive victory against Nadal goes begging once again.

BBC say it all I think. Andy failed to handle Nadal's brilliance. Nadal wasn't at his best tonight but Andy was by no means outplayed. Scoreline is worse that it was. He was always right there at 30 or deuce on Nadal's serve. And his serve % was high and he was going for it. (again the serve volley thing?)

Anyway, all in all good signs.

yeah i agree, murray didn't play badly at all. 'unforced errors' are always an ambiguous term against nadal because he puts so much top spin on the ball. i think nadal served in the 80's too which made it pretty hard for andy to break.

Murray is clearly not up to par with the likes of Nadal.

I think Barry Cowan has a certain charm.

He should reduce his unforced errors if he want to go far at Roland Garros.

Yawnnnnnnnn