Andy Murray's frailties on clay were cruelly exposed by a wily opponent as his French Open campaign concluded at Roland Garros.

Chile's Fernando Gonzalez outwitted the British number one in four sets, 6-3, 3-6 6-0, 6-4, to end a run of five matches without a win against top-five opponents.

Murray, the third seed and the highest ranked remaining player in the top half of the draw, was making his debut in the last eight at Roland Garros but he ran into an inspired and determined rival.

Gonzalez was always going to be Murray's sternest test, the experienced Chilean baseliner has reached the last eight twice in eight previous visits to Roland Garros.

The 12th seed has been ranked as high as fifth in the world and he likes nothing more than when his feet are on clay.

Murray produced a tremendous response after dropping the first set, leveling proceedings with some impressive statistics - making no unforced errors as he left Gonzalez flat-footed with his unerring serve.

But whatever he did right in the second set, he did wrong in the third as Gonzalez wrapped it up without dropping a game, taking a 2-1 advantage in just 23 minutes.

Murray knew he had to keep Gonzalez deep but too often dropped the ball short and exposed himself to the Chilean's booming ground strokes.

Gonzalez also expertly mixed up his serve to keep Murray guessing, a tactic that thwarted the threat of one of the game's best returners.

Gonzalez had a chance to serve for the match after breaking the Scot in the eighth game of the fourth set but Murray broke him to love.

But this was not the start of a famous fightback.

Having got himself back in the match, he then lost his next service game without winning a point as Gonzalez secured progression to the last four in two hours and 15 minutes.

Gonzalez will now play Sweden's Roger Soderling, who beat reigning champion Rafael Nadal and dropped just five games in his 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 quarter-final win over Nikolay Davydenko.