Angry Murray out of French Open

Angry British fourth seed Andy Murray crashed out of the French Open on Sunday losing 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 to Tomas Berdych, the 12th seeded Czech.

Berdych will face Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny for a place in the semi-finals.

Murray, a quarter-finalist in 2009, was angry that the match was concluded at 2130 (1930GMT) in fading light and after the tie had already suffered a 40-minute rain delay.

“It was frustrating. I knew I would have to take chances and hit lots of winners. I needed to be solid and stable and hang in there because I knew I would get chances,” said Murray.

“I struggled after the rain delay. He hits a big ball in those kind of heavy conditions.”

Despite his disappointment, Murray refused to blame the gloomy atmosphere for his loss.

“They put a lot of clay on the baseline and service line during the delay, but at the back of the court it was slippy and I lost my footing a few times.

“But I don’t to make excuses. They were tough conditions but he just handled them better than me.”

Berdych admitted that he settled better than his opponent.

“There was the delay and the darkness, maybe I handled it better than he did,” said Berdych, who will be playing in his first Roland Garros quarter-final.

“The balls were covered in clay, they were all brown and were tough to see and the court was really wet. My coach told me that Andy looked like he didn’t want to play.”

Berdych had won the first set 6-4 with Murray ahead 4-3 in the second when play was halted for rain at 2000 (1800 GMT) and most fans had already left Court Suzanne Lenglen believing that the match would conclude on Monday.

But play resumed at 2040 (1840GMT) despite the dank, windy surroundings and Murray never settled, arguing constantly with the officials as well as berating himself.

Berdych secured the only break of the second set in the ninth game and held his nerve to achieve another in the seventh game of the decider as Murray’s challenge fell to pieces.