Murray meets with yet more grand slam disappointment

Murray has reached two grand slam finals, the 2008 US Open and this year's Australian Open, losing to Roger Federer on both occasions without winning a set.

As world No 4, he had hopes of reaching a third but Wawrinka completed a remarkable 6-7 (3/7) 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 6-3 win in three hours and 56 minutes.

Murray recovered from a break down to win the first set.

The Scot had a 5-3 career record against Wawrinka, including a memorable five-set victory at Wimbledon last year in the first full match to be played under the Centre Court roof.

And the fourth seed also beat the world No 27 in straight sets at Flushing Meadows in 2008, the Scot winning 6-1 6-3 6-3 on his way to the final.

But it was Wawrinka who made the best start on the Louis Armstrong court, saving four break points in a 12-minute third game before breaking Murray in the next to move 3-1 ahead.

Wawrinka served for the set at 5-3 and was 30-0 up before Murray hit back to recover the break, the set eventually going to a tie-break.

There was a moment of controversy on the third point when Murray's backhand hit the top of the net. Wawrinka shouted 'Allez', presumably thinking he had won the point, but the ball dropped in and, after Wawrinka returned it, Murray dumped his next shot into the net.

The Scot was furious and asked umpire Steve Ullrich: "It's okay for him to scream 'Allez' when the ball has not crossed the net?" to which Ullrich replied "As long as the ball is going towards him".

Murray was not best pleased with that explanation but retained his composure to take the tie-break 7-3 after one hour and 10 minutes.

The momentum appeared to have switched in Murray's favour and it was no surprise when he broke in Wawrinka's first service game of the second set.

A forehand winner set up three break points and the British No 1 took the first of them in style, drawing Wawrinka into the net and effortlessly flicking a backhand lob over his stranded opponent.

However, Murray was still not playing at his best consistently – unforced errors often leaving the 23-year-old screaming at himself at the back of the court – and Wawrinka broke back to recover from 3-0 down to 3-3.

Murray gave himself the chance to serve for the set with another break in the eighth game, but promptly lost his serve again and another tie-break was required.

This time it was Wawrinka who jumped out to an early lead as two forehands from Murray drifted long, the 25th seed eventually taking it 7-4 to level the match after two hours and 18 minutes.

Murray broke serve in the opening game of the third set but then lost the next four games in a row and was spending more time complaining to himself and anyone within earshot than playing tennis.

A strange match then took another twist as Murray called for the trainer at 4-1 down and received a brief massage to his left thigh before continuing, only for Wawrinka to then need a full medical timeout in the next game for treatment to his right thigh after lunging for a backhand.

The Swiss player returned to the court with his thigh heavily bandaged and, after Murray had won the point he needed to hold serve, showed few ill effects as he did likewise to lead 5-2.

That brought another visit from the trainer for treatment to Wawrinka's other thigh, but it was Murray who was looking in deeper trouble when Wawrinka served out to take the set 6-3 and a two sets to one lead after three hours and six minutes.

The players exchanged breaks of serve – the 10th and 11th of the match – at the start of the fourth set, before Wawrinka broke again in the fifth game for a 3-2 lead.

Murray then boldly saved three more break points in the seventh game to stay in touch, before receiving more treatment at the change of ends, this time to his neck.

But when he again faced break points, and therefore match points in the ninth game, he was unable to hang on and Wawrinka completed a remarkable 6-7 (3/7) 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 6-3 win in three hours and 56 minutes.

Rafael Nadal made smooth progress into the fourth round with a straightforward win over Gilles Simon.

The first two sets were closely fought but the world No 1 always had the edge and he ran through the third to complete a 6-4 6-4 6-2 victory and set up a last-16 encounter against fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.

Nadal was not the sole focus of Spanish attention for once after David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco set up a local affair in the fourth round.

Ferrer advanced to the last 16 at Flushing Meadows for just the second time in his career with a comfortable 7-6 (7/2) 6-2 6-2 win over fellow Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver.

Eighth seed Verdasco needed four sets to beat Argentina's David Nalbandian and is looking forward to the all-Spanish meeting with Ferrer.

A record nine Spanish players had reached the third round, but 14th seed Nicolas Almagro was unable to join Ferrer and Verdasco in the last 16 as he lost in straight sets to American Sam Querrey.

However, 23rd seed Feliciano Lopez did ensure more success for Spain, the left-hander leading 6-3 4-0 against Sergiy Stakhovsky when the Ukrainian was forced to retire hurt from their third-round match.

On Saturday, Federer continued his serene progress to remain on course for a showdown with the man who ended his amazing grand slam streak.

Federer overcame strong winds to beat France's Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4 6-3 6-3 in one hour and 39 minutes and is yet to drop a set in three matches at Flushing Meadows.

The five-time champion is looking to reach his seventh straight final in New York and regain the title after losing to Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro 12 months ago.

But he looks set to face Sweden's Robin Soderling in the quarter-finals, the player he lost to at the same stage of the French Open this year to end his streak of 23 consecutive grand slam semi-final appearances.

Soderling needed five sets to edge past Austrian qualifier Andreas Haider-Maurer in the first round, but has since dropped just 16 games, the fifth seed beating Thiemo De Bakker 6-2 6-3 6-3 on Saturday in just an hour and 42 minutes.

Before any meeting with Soderling, Federer will first take on Austrian Jurgen Melzer after the 13th seed eliminated Juan Carlos Ferrero – seeded 22nd – 7-5 6-3 6-1.

Third seed Novak Djokovic is also through after knocking out American James Blake 6-1 7-6 6-3. Djokovic next faces another American in Fish as the 19th seed continued his impressive recent form with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 1-6 6-3 victory over France's Arnaud Clement, his 19th win in his last 21 matches.

Albert Montanes had earlier become the first man into the last 16 after Japan's Kei Nishikori was forced to retire from their third-round match. Montanes had won the first set 6-2 and was leading 2-1.