Andy Murray loses to Fernando Verdasco in US Open second round – as it happened

*Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 1-0 Verdasco (* denotes next server)

Murray moving into his optimum performance zone now. He's like those students who leave their essays until the last minute: he delivers under pressure. 

It all means Verdasco is a little unnerved - but Murray's had to fight a psychological battle, too, given his injury. 

He's had to cope with the frustration of not always being able to make shots that would have once been easy for him. Athletes have long spoken about how frustrating it is when your body can't do what you want it to: David Beckham, for what it's worth, said he knew he had to retire when Messi skipped past him, and the horrors of Gary Neville's last season are still seared onto all our brains. 

Which is not to suggest Murray is at retirement age - far from it. Just that, at this stage of his comeback, he's probably still trying to understand the limits of his body. 

*Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 1-0 Verdasco (* denotes next server)

This, though, is some showing from Murray. 

You can't ever doubt his commitment. He must be feeling horrendous - he looks dead on his feet - but he's a man who will not be denied. 

He's clawed his way back into his point time and again, and takes it to deuce before Verdasco's cheeky flick gets the better of him at the net. 

From then, Verdasco manages to hold: Murray dug deep into his bag of tricks, but his opponent was solid when it mattered. 

Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 1-1 Verdasco* (* denotes next server)

Murray is like a Nokia phone battery: you think there can't be any more life left in him, but he flickers back into life every time he looks dead. 

He needed a quick hold after all the huff and puff he'd extended in the previous game, searching for an elusive early break - and he's done it. 

*Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 2-1 Verdasco (* denotes next server)

Murray has sunk his teeth into this battle like Dracula into some unsuspecting victim. 

It's a gutsy showing, but you can't help but feel Verdasco is the one with a little more guile. He's controlled this game adeptly, playing some lovely shots, and it's all too easy for him to hold emphatically as, having sent Murray to the right, he sends the ball plunging into acres of space with an effortless flick of his wrist. 

That gives him a good platform to chase Murray's serve now. 

Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 2-2 Verdasco* (* denotes next server)

Verdasco looks genuinely unplayable now - the pace he can create on his forehands is ludicrous, but his intelligent in his movement has run Murray ragged at times given the angles the Spaniard has created. 

He rises into an overhead, picks his shot and smoothly sends the ball hurtling over Murray's head. It's breathtaking to watch - especially for Murray, who looks like I do after I've climbed the two flights of stairs to work. 

Murray leading this one, though: 40-30. 

Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 2-2 Verdasco* (* denotes next server)

A tremendous hit from Murray means he holds - in what was a remarkable show of passion and fire to play himself back into the game like this. 

Murray, like all sportspeople, was a nightmare to play board games with as a kid, apparently. Used to toss the board away if he didn't win. 

I get you, Andy - I wouldn't want to play Monopoly with Jermaine Pennant either. 

*Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 3-2 Verdasco (* denotes next server)

It's just a bit daft, how close this is now. 

You can't discount Murray - I mean, he's Murray, and one of the best competitors in the history of the sport - but Verdasco, who's been competing all year round, lest we forget, just looks supremely fitter.

He takes this game with ease.  

Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 3-3 Verdasco* (* denotes next server)

These two have been playing for three hours now - I'll get thinking about what else we could have spent these past 180 minutes doing in a second - but Verdasco finds another level, smothering Murray with some deep returns to break, again. 

Murray thought he'd got the better of the Spaniard with a drifting backhand, but Verdasco returned, against all odds, to peg his opponent back. 

I don't know how much is left in Murray's tank now. 

*Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 3-4 Verdasco (* denotes next server)

As promised, I've found a wonderful IMDB page called 'Best films over three hours long' - which is how long this contest has been going on for. 

During the time you've spent with me, watching these two engage in their tense back and fourth, you could have watched The Godfather II, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Titanic or The Wolf of Wall Street, among others.  

Moreover, Verdasco's won ten straight points here - and he's just wrapped this game up with an incredible run that's shown exactly how good he's been at converting defence to attack. 

It all makes you wonder just how close Murray was when he was on set point what seems like a lifetime ago. How differently things could be now... 

Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 3-5 Verdasco* (* denotes next server)

To be fair to Murray, he's persistent: he salvages another two points, despite struggling physically, to force Verdasco to dig deep - and he gives Verdasco something to think about as the Spaniard falters and sends one zipping into the net. 

Judy Murray watches from the stands, but she's seen her son overcome tougher situations than this before. The next two points are crucial for Murray: if he gets the break here, he's back in this for sure.