Postpublished at 21:53 BST 16 May 2014
Nadal won 100% of the points on his second serve, hit 15 winners and made just six unforced errors in that set. An impressive turnaround. The Spaniard is back on court. Let the final set commence.
Nadal wins 1-6 6-3 7-5
Nadal to play Dimitrov in semis
*denotes next to serve
Lawrence Barretto
Nadal won 100% of the points on his second serve, hit 15 winners and made just six unforced errors in that set. An impressive turnaround. The Spaniard is back on court. Let the final set commence.
Nadal has nipped off court while the umpire is back down on court to assess the conditions as the light rain continues to fall. A few umbrellas have sprung up, but the umpire looks content to let play continue.
Gus Harris:, external Rafa's got his swagger back! Should be a great final set...
Nadal lets our a roar of satisfaction as he blasts a forehand crosscourt for a winner to move to 40-0. A Murray return goes long and that's the set. What a response from Nadal.
It's not a good start for Murray, the Scot wincing after spraying another forehand into the tramlines to lose the first point. He hasn't looked all that comfortable in this set but the world number eight musters up something from somewhere to rally and reach 40-30. Deuce follows after a magical backhand drop-volley from Nadal. But Murray wins the next two points to seal the game and make Nadal serve for the set.
But Nadal is really firing on his serve and races though another game to love. It's exquisite stuff from the world number one and defending champion.
Murray is refusing to give this set up without a fight, edging to a service hold to stay in touch.
It's impeccable from Nadal who races through his service game to love for the first time in the match.
Murray's first serve isn't motoring like it was in the first set, allowing Nadal too many opportunities on his second serve. But somehow, he musters up game point at 40-30 and wins the next to clinch the game.
The umpire pops down from his chair to assess the court conditions as light rain falls in Rome, but he declares that "the court is good" and play will continue.
We've got a momentum switch here, as Murray's unforced error count rockets up. The Brit looks slightly jaded as Nadal moves to 40-15. A tasty serve down the middle is followed by two huge forehands. Murray can do nothing with the second and it's game Nadal. Unfortunately for Murray, Nadal is playing like his normal self in this set.
Murray reaches for his knee as he slides for a forehand, which he sends long, but he looks OK. The next few points don't go so well and he soon finds himself break point down. But like he has done so often in this match, Murray digs deep, running everything down and eventually Nadal cracks. Deuce. Another break point follows, though, and this time Nadal takes it. The Spaniard glances up to his box and pumps his fist.
For the first time in the match, Murray snatches at a few balls and after winning the first point of the game, Nadal then wins the next three, the last of which he wins with a tasty backhand volley that brings out the Spaniard's first fist pump of the match. Murray rallies to bring up deuce. Then a second deuce. And a third deuce. And a fourth. But there's no fifth as Nadal ends the marathon game with a service hold.
Andrew Priestley:, external Good grief! Andy Murray is dominating Rafa Nadal on clay! That's not something you see every day. Now it's time to dig in
Jenny Jones:, external Can Murray keep this up? Nadal losing on clay! What's up with him?
Carol:, external And Murray is back! Fabulous tennis one of the greats no doubt.
Murray is seemingly unfazed by the loss of that game, the Scot cruising to a 40-0 lead, which included a delicate crosscourt drop which Nadal didn't even move for. A double fault blots his copybook, but Nadal's eighth unforced error of the match gifts Murray the point and the set.
Nadal doesn't like being on the receiving end of a bagel. Usually, it's him dishing them out. The Spaniard adds an extra zip to his first serve and races to a 40-0 lead. Murray gets a sniff at a second serve and swats it away with aplomb. A sumptuous crosscourt backhand from Murray saves another break point but the Scot goes just long in the next and Nadal finally gets a game on the board.
Nadal puts more pressure on the Murray serve, bringing up deuce. The next point is a corker, Murray running down everything, even pulling out a forehand slice, as he tries to deal with a Nadal barrage. It's worth it as Murray pulls himself back into the point and then fires a backhand, from his top drawer, down the line to bring up game point. Out comes the fist pump. A brilliant first serve seals the game. It's 5-0 to Murray - and it's totally deserved.
Nadal's second serve is looking ropey, the Spaniard throwing in a double fault to hand Murray the advantage at 0-30. Super defence from Murray sees him send a ball up high and, quite unbelievably, Nadal misses the resultant smash, the ball going long by a few centimetres. Three break points. Murray only needs one as Nadal dumps another backhand in the net. The world number one is very much on the ropes.
Darren Cahill,, external former coach to Andre Agassi: "Andy controlled just about every point. Getting good looks & finding Rafa's b/hand more than normal. Murray also aggressive with his b/hand."
Nadal seems to be finding his timing and moves to 15-40 on the Murray serve. But a Nadal ball sits up after clipping the net and the Scot puts it away with ease to save the first break point. Murray rattles off the next two to bring up game point but then throws in a double fault.
A monstrous 31-shot rally is won by Nadal, who consistently runs around his backhand to launch some ferocious forehands crosscourt and eventually break Murray down for another break point. Deuce again. This time, Murray rattles off two straight points to hold serve.