Madrid: World number four Andy Murray crashed out of the Madrid Open when he was beaten 6-4 6-2 by unseeded Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci in the third round on Thursday.
Briton Murray, who is returning from an elbow injury that prevented him playing at last month's Barcelona Open, had his serve broken once in the first set and twice in the second by the stylish left-hander in the pair's first meeting.
Bellucci, ranked 36, saved all three break points he faced on the clay at the Magic Box arena and sealed victory on his first match point when Murray netted a backhand.
Murray, who will now head to Italy for next week's Rome Masters, was not too disheartened with the defeat and said he had to be realistic about his chances in Madrid after his injury layoff.
"I've got to look more at the week as a whole," the 23-year-old Scot told a news conference.
"I was coming back from an injury that wasn't serious but an elbow injury isn't easy for tennis players.
"I'm happy that physically I progressed, I was hitting the ball decent, I think I can definitely get better.
"You just need to be quite cautious and not do too much too soon because then you take a step back, but I think I've judged it pretty well.
"I need to get my tennis back because that's the most important thing going into Rome and the French Open."
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