Andy Murray crashed out of the Monte Carlo Masters today 6-0, 6-4 to world No 3 Novak Djokovic. The Scot had a dreadful start and looked on course for the dreaded 'Double Doughnut' - a 6-0, 6-0 hammering.

But Murray won his first service game of the second set and avoided a whitewash, to huge cheers from the British contingent in the crowd.

That gave the British No1 confidence and he dug in as the score progressed to 5-4 on serve - but two disastrous double faults handed the match to the Serb.

Although clay is not the Scot's favourite surface, he had eased through to the third round with confidence-boosting wins over Feliciano Lopez and Filippo Volandri. Today, though, his inexperience was ruthlessly exploited by Djokovic. Murray's first service game turned out to be the key moment of the set, and he lost it after an epic battle with six deuces. At one point Djokovic applauded a backhand winner by Murray but there was no room for sentiment as his friend Djokovic stormed into a 2-0 lead.

Murray was standing too far behind the baseline and allowing Djokovic to dominate - a mistake that saw the next four games slip away in no time to hand the set to the Serb 6-0.

Meanwhile, normal service was resumed by world No1 Roger Federer, who dismissed local favourite Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-4.

The Swiss star struggled against Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo yesterday and had to come back from 5-1 down in the final set to win in a tie-break. The only scare for Federer today came when he dropped his second service game, but he hit straight back to level the match at 2-2. He broke again for a 5-3 lead when Frenchman Monfils sent a big fore-hand wide. Federer went on to hold serve and secure the first set when Monfils overhit a service return.

Federer broke serve in the third game of the second set and although Monfils saved three break points at 4-2, it was only putting off the inevitable.

Federer said: "My forehand worked well today. I was just happy, after yesterday, to be playing so well. Today was fine again. It's good I reacted so well after yesterday's tough match."

Three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal beat his Spanish compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-4, 6-1.

The world No2 said: "It was a good match. It is never easy to play against Juan Carlos. He's a big player, especially here on clay. It is a very good start for me and that gives me confidence."

Nadal broke Ferrero, who has won the event twice himself, in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead.

But Ferrero pinned Nadal on the baseline in the seventh game and broke back, before holding for 4-4.

Ferrero saved three set points at 5-4 down, the first with a forehand winner and the next two when Nadal went long with attempted baseline winners.

Ferrero conceded the opener after a tense rally where Nadal was wrong-footed by a volley but managed to lob the ball back. Ferrero flicked the ball between his legs to continue the long exchange, which ended several strokes later when Nadal's booming forehand landed just in.

Nadal dominated the second set and will now play fifth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain.