Murray serves up damp squib

Andy Murray went out of the Rome Masters after two rain breaks saw the match swing to and fro against Frenchman Gilles Simon.

The first-round encounter was firmly in Simon's control in the first set, which he won 6-1.

But, after a rain delay, Murray hit back to win the next set by the same scoreline, before a second break allowed Simon to regather his attack and take the deciding set 6-3.

Murray flew out of the starting blocks in his first match since recovering from a back injury, breaking the Simon serve in the opening game.

But the 22-year-old, a winner in Marseille in February, made light work of the the Scot's serve, breaking back instantly before going on to dominate the SAP Open champion from the back of the court with his pace, power and precision.

It was easy to see why Murray won just four games on clay last season as Simon reeled off the next five games to take the opening set. But the rain came to the world number 10's rescue as Murray returned much improved from a short delay.

Resuming at 30-30, the 19-year-old held serve for the first time in the match and then gained a crucial break of serve. Simon remained a stubborn opponent, breaking back immediately to level things up.

But Murray's class eventually began to tell as he grew in confidence against the world number 58, taking the next four games to level the match before a further rain delay at the beginning of the third set.

Simon started the decider the better as he held serve before breaking to take a 2-0 lead. Simon then held serve and broke Murray again to lead 4-0.

But Murray broke back in the fifth game before holding serve to trail 4-2. The next two games went with serve before Murray held a break point in the ninth game. However, Simon recovered to hold his serve to take the match 6-1 1-6 6-3.