Andy Murray loses to Fernando Verdasco in US Open second round – as it happened
Andy Murray was knocked out in the second round of the US Open in New York
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Your support makes all the difference.Andy Murray faced one of his toughest challenges yet on his comeback from hip surgery as he took on No 31 seed Fernando Verdasco in the second round of the US Open.
The former world No 1 played down his chances of winning a second title at Flushing Meadows as he looks to continue his gradual return to action, and after beating Australian James Duckworth in the first round, his reward was a tricky task against the current world No 32.
Murray has played higher-ranked opposition since returning to action – most notably his fellow Briton Kyle Edmund – but this was his first Grand Slam back since Wimbledon last year. Verdasco will now take on either Denis Kudla or former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in the third round.
Re-live the live action below...
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Murray 2-2 Verdasco*
And Murray breaks back! His movements may be diminished, but Murray dominates mentally - he levels it up with some smart tennis.
Murray 2-2 Verdasco*
Murray hitting his stride here - and the crowd are responding with real warmth.
83 mph, that last serve - waaaay above the UK speed limit, but still a way off some of the ones Verdasco has done - as Murray leads game five 40-15.
*Murray 3-2 Verdasco
Murray turns up the pace and the style - three brilliant serves help him take game five.
He's limited Verdasco and patrolled the court manfully so far - Verdasco's relied on his forehand here, which will be physically taxing.
Murray will want to take the first point here to continue the momentum.
*Murray 3-2 Verdasco
Verdasco wins the first point but Murray responds with a sublime backhand - his movement to slide into that position was surprising considering how much his hip injury has limited his tennis.
And Murray breaks, again - Murray is zipping and gliding almost with ease, which none of us expected.
Murray 4-2 Verdasco*
You feel like Verdasco is dipping in and out of this with a little less conviction than Murray, who's started with real verve.
At 15-15, Murray challenges - but his serve was out. Hope those faults don't start creeping back in after this game burst to life so suddenly.
Right on cue, Murray finds the net and Verdasco leads 15-40.
Murray 4-2 Verdasco*
Murray thought he had saved the break with a teasing drop volley - but Verdasco sprints, makes up the distance and his forehand reply swerves deep past Murray, and Verdasco breaks.
*Murray 4-3 Verdasco
Murray is generally striking the ball well during these long rallies - we spoke earlier about how Verdasco likes to keep his opponents on the court for as long as he can, but Murray is winning the greater percentage of these long rallies.
He takes the first point after a run comprised of 14-shots, but Verdasco takes the next two - with an 86 mph forehand.
Some explosiveness in that shot - and he uses it again to make it 40-15.
*Murray 4-3 Verdasco
Verdasco goes for the big one down the tee - at 114 mph - and Murray challenges.
It's in - by a whisker - and Verdasco takes the fourth.
Murray 4-4 Verdasco*
Yikes - that was magnificent from Murray.
With the pair locked at 30-30, Murray reacts superbly to Verdasco's tricky drop shot.
It's a gamble from Murray as he darts to his right with a reaction reply - which Verdasco wildly overhits to let Murray lead 40-30.
But the Scot is still missing the kind of shots you'd expect him to bury instinctively, and there's something inevitable, in a game as closely-contested as this one, about the moment Verdasco takes it to deuce.
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