Andy Murray's French Open campaign came to an end when he was beaten 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 7-5 by Nicolas Almagro in the third round on Friday. The Spaniard's pedigree on clay saw him come out as the winner after a competitive match played out in perfect sunshine in Paris. Having turned in contrasting performances in his first two games, Murray knew only his very best would be enough to see him through to the last 16. After falling a set behind the British number one battled back to level matters and looked to be the aggressor midway through the third.

However, Almagro found another gear to seize control, going on to finally seal his progression to the next round after two hours and 48 minutes on court number seven.

The 19th seed's power from the back of the court was evident from the very outset when he broke Murray at the very first opportunity.

The Scot was not helped by the fact he failed to get one first serve in but as each game went by he warmed to the task, not hard to do in the warm conditions, pushing his rival to deuce in the fourth game before losing two quick points.

Murray fell 0-30 down on his own serve in the eighth game but managed to keep the set alive, albeit only for one more game as the Spaniard went 1-0 ahead after 36 minutes on his second set point.

Despite the disappointment of falling behind he quickly rallied to make sure he didn't make the same mistake in the second set as he had done in the first, holding his first service game comfortably enough.

Using serve-volley tactics, something not often seen on such a slow surface, Murray came close to breaking Almagro in the fourth game, three times failing to convert chances before the set eventually went to a tiebreak.

After a switch of ends with the score at 3-3 the 10th seed suddenly came out all guns blazing, reeling off an impressive four straight points to make it one set apiece.

With his tail up Murray did not take long to wrestle the advantage in the third set, breaking his opponent for the first time in the contest to go 2-1 ahead.

But the lead did not last too long, Almagro spurring himself into life with two successive breaks that helped him move back ahead.

A fifth straight game for the 22-year-old gave him the early edge in the fourth and although Murray finally ended the run by holding serve, he looked a beaten man.

To his credit he fought hard until the very end, even breaking Almagro to stay alive at five all before the man from Murcia finally killed him off at the second attempt.