Murray Haas it all - but then the tommy rot sets in and he crashes out at Indian Wells

The British number one cruised through the opening set but his first serve deserted him in the second and the German pounced to wrap up a 2-6 7-5 6-3 victory.

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It was sweet revenge for world number 36 Haas following his quarter-final defeat to Murray at the same Masters Series event last year - the pair's only previous meeting.

Serving first, Haas handed Murray two break points in the opening game after a flurry of unforced errors.

But the German recovered to hold before Murray comfortably followed suit.

Haas surrendered another two break points in game three and this time there was no coming back as the 29-year-old sent a forehand long.

Neither player was finding their rhythm on serve and Haas had the chance to break straight back but Murray held on.

The next two games went with serve as both players began to find their form from the back of the court.

But Murray's class began to tell, the Scot breaking to love to open up a 5-2 lead before serving out the set.

Haas finally put together a love service game at the start of the second set and even took Murray to deuce in the next game.

After holding serve again, the German earned himself a break point which he converted with the most sublime of drop shots.

The former world number two was beginning to mix up his tactics and it paid off as he held to move 4-1 ahead before Murray stemmed the tide to take it to 5-3 and force Haas to serve for the set.

The Scot's tenacity paid off as his opponent slumped to 0-40, although Murray needed all three break points to get the set back on serve.

A tie-break looked certain but Haas found an extra gear at 6-5 to snatch the set at the second attempt after Murray netted.

The Scot's serve was badly letting him down and after Haas held to love in the opening game of the deciding set, the German had another break point in game two.

Murray held on and at 2-2, the British number one suddenly found some inspiration, a stunning lob setting up three break points.

But Haas battled back to deuce and saved another break point before completing what appeared a crucial hold.

Murray responded in kind in the next game, recovering from 15-40 to make it 3-3.

Neither player was having an easy ride on serve and Murray missed another chance to break, which left the Scot screaming in frustration.

His outburst did not have the desired effect, Haas easily breaking to love to move within one game of victory.

Great serving from the German set up two match points and Murray netted on the second of them to hand Haas victory.

Murray said: "If I had played a bit more aggressively in the third set - like I did in the first set - then I would have won the match.

"I still think I was good enough to win the match but I didn't."

Meanwhile, Andy's brother Jamie progressed to the semi-finals of the men's doubles with playing partner Max Mirnyi.

The duo defeated top-seeded Americans Bob and Mike Bryan after a match tie-break, 5-7 6-4 10/6.

The victory sets up a last-four meeting with Israeli duo Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram.