Murray eliminated by Verdasco

The British number one, looking to reach the last eight in Melbourne for the first time, came into the match having not dropped a set but found the Spanish 14th seed in formidable form.

Verdasco had only dropped 12 games en route to his showdown with Murray - the fewest number of games conceded through the first three rounds of the Australian Open in the open era - and as he peppered the baseline and sidelines with winners and had Murray scampering around the court chasing drop shots and lobs, it was easy to see why.

Murray had struggled with headaches and a sore throat prior to his third-round match against Jurgen Melzer and seemed to still have been feeling the effects against the Spaniard, who was playing in the last 16 for the first time in Australia.

Murray, the world number four, has a good record against left-handers with the exception of Rafael Nadal, who he has lost to five times.

Now Verdasco's name can be added to the list after the 21-year-old Scot went walkabout in the second set, failed to find the breakthrough he wanted in the fourth and saw his hopes of a maiden grand slam title slip away in the fifth-set decider.

Murray had huge support in Hisense Arena and the crowd sang and chanted between the change of ends and cheered his every point.

In a bid to inspire their player a section of the crowd struck up a rendition of Flower of Scotland when Murray was 3-0 down in the fourth.