Andy Murray’s preparations for the French Open suffered a setback, as he was beaten by 16th seed Richard Gasquet in the third round of the Italian Open.

The Scot edged an 83-minute first set but Frenchman Gasquet rallied to win 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 6-2 in just under three hours on Rome’s SuperTennis Arena.

Murray, 25, later revealed he has been carrying a back problem since December but declined to elaborate.

The season’s second Grand Slam starts at Roland Garros on 27 May.

“I don’t really want to go into detail of what it is and what treatment I’ve had done, but I’ve had it a while, since December,” said world number four Murray, who pulled out of the Madrid Open with the problem.

“Since then there hasn’t been that much time to take an extended break and now with the French Open, Wimbledon, Olympics and the US Open to come, there’s not much time to take a rest.

“But hopefully by the time the French Open comes around I’ll be in peak condition. That’s the goal.”

Gasquet goes on to face David Ferrer in the quarter-finals after the Spaniard beat French 11th seed Gilles Simon 6-0 7-6 (7-5).

Meanwhile, world number one Novak Djokovic outfought Argentina’s Juan Monaco 4-6 6-2 6-3 and second seeded Rafael Nadal was ruthless destroyed fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers 6-1 6-1.

“It was difficult to play in the wind, but it was the same for both of us,” said defending champion Djokovic, who next plays Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Juan Martin del Potro.

“He was able to deal with the conditions better at the start, but after a set and a half I started to play better and change my strategy.

“I never expected an easy match against him on his favourite surface. I felt I started hitting the ball better. I found my rhythm.”

Next up for Nadal is Tomas Berdych after last week’s Madrid Open runner-up overcame Spain’s Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.

In the women’s draw, Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova battled to a 6-2 5-7 6-2 victory over Sorana Cirstea.

Madrid Open winner Serena Williams , the ninth seed, saw off Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3 6-1.

“I’m getting nervous,” said Serena, looking ahead to the French Open. “I feel good and I’ve had a lot of practice on clay.

“Today I was running so much, I was ready to play and feeling good. I wasn’t tired at all.”

Her sister Venus Williams eliminated US Open champion Samantha Stosur with an impressive 6-4 6-3 win.

The result puts Venus on course for a place in the US Olympic team, a remarkable achievement after she was diagnosed with Sjogren’s Disease during the 2011 US Open.

She plays defending Maria Sharapova in the last eight after the Russian, who saved six set points in the opener, beat former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.

Defending French Open champion Li Na and Italian Flavia Pennetta also advanced to the quarter-finals.