Murray beaten by Berdych

Andy Murray's hopes of reaching the Monte Carlo Masters semis for the third time were ended by Tomas Berdych in a three-set battle.

The British number one had managed to draw first blood by edging a tight first set on a tie-break but Berdych ultimately proved too strong, taking the next two to book his last-four berth with a 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-3 win after almost three hours on court. The Czech ace had won the pair's only other meeting on clay - at the French Open in 2010 - and gradually started to test the Murray serve in the opening set. He forced three break points in the eighth game and five more in game 12 but failed to take any of them as the set went into a tie-break, and it was the British number one who took advantage, converting on his third set point. However, Berdych secured a break in the third game of the second set to steal the advantage and comfortably drew level with a second break in the seventh game to take the match into a decider. Murray continued to struggle on serve and Berdych capitalised with a break in the third game before going on to seal victory. Berdych will now face either world number one Novak Djokovic or Robin Haase in the last four.