World number one Sir Andy Murray has been eliminated from the Monte Carlo Masters ©Getty Images

World number one Sir Andy Murray has been eliminated from the Monte Carlo Masters after suffering a shock defeat against 15th seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

The double Wimbledon champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist lost 6-2, 2-6, 5-7 in what was only his second match back after being sidelined for a month with an elbow problem.

Sir Andy held a 4-0 lead in the deciding set, but Ramos-Vinolas won seven of the last eight games to advance through to the quarter-finals.

Awaiting him in the last eight is Croatia’s Marin Cilic, who beat Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych 6-2, 7-6 (7-0).

Ramos-Vinolas’ compatriot Rafael Nadal, the defending champion, made short work of Germany’s Alexander Zverev today with a 6-1, 6-1 win in one hour and eight minutes.

Nadal, aiming for his 50th clay court title, will next face Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman, who defeated Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-0.

Albert Ramos-Vinolas won seven of the last eight games in his match against Sir Andy Murray ©Getty Images
Albert Ramos-Vinolas won seven of the last eight games in his match against Sir Andy Murray ©Getty Images

Also causing an upset today was 16th seed Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay, a 6-4, 6-4 victor over 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland.

His reward is a last-eight clash with France's Lucas Pouille, who advanced when leading his first set against compatriot Adrian Mannarino 3-0.

Mannarino retired with a hip injury sustained after his victory over fellow Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Tuesday (April 18).

The other quarter-final pits world number two Novak Djokovic of Serbia against Belgian 10th seed David Goffin.

Djokovic claimed a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Spain's Pablo Carreño Busta, while Goffin defeated Austrian sixth seed Dominic Thiem 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-3.