World number four Andy Murray was sent packing from the Australian Open after losing to 14th seed Fernando Verdasco of Spain in a full sets fourth round match on Monday. The Spaniard snapped a five-match losing streak against the Scot, a pre-tournament favorite, with a 2-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 win for a place in the quarterfinals.

Rafael Nadal underlined his status as world number one by beating No. 13 seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. It was his third straight time to advance to the quarterfinals in the season's opening Grand Slam.

Verdasco was outplayed by Murray in the first and third sets but managed to find the form in between to race through the second before adding an equally dominant fourth set and sneaking through the fifth.

"I just try to get the rhythm with my forehand, just try to move him all the time," said Verdasco.

"For me it was one of the biggest goals being in quarterfinals for the first time in Grand Slam, and I was feeling with big confidence and pretty fit."

The 21-year-old Murray beat both Roger Federer and Nadal in the same tournament for the first time in an exhibition tournament early this month, and has been touted as the top favorite to win the Australian Open in run-up to the Grand Slam.

"It didn't make a whole lot of difference to the way that I played in my matches. I mean, a bit more attention and stuff before the tournament started."

"And the loss did not feel terrible. You know, I had my chances. He served incredible in the fourth and fifth sets. So, you know, he deserves the credit for the win."

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