Andy Murray has said that he is disappointed following his defeat to Rafael Nadal in the Italian Open.

The Scot was beaten 1-6 6-3 7-5 in his quarter-final tie and he has admitted that world number one Nadal finished the match the stronger of the pair.

"Obviously I am disappointed losing from 4-2 in the third," The Guardian quotes him as saying. "It was a poor game. But tactically I did pretty well for the majority of the match. You don't get many chances to beat Rafa on clay. He was a little bit stronger than me at the end.

"I feel like my game is getting there but I don't think people sometimes respect the severity of the back surgery [that he underwent last September]. I'm getting close to where I want to be, though.

"That was probably the best I have hit the ball on clay for a while and the best I have felt physically since the surgery. To win against Rafa on clay is one of the toughest things in our sport."

Nadal will face Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-final.