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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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 5-4 Verdasco
Murray has managed this superbly so far - 70 mph on his backhand just then, which is 6 mph more than his average - and is limiting Verdasco's thinking time.
Verdasco forces deuce with a world-class serve that's just, just in - and Murray, moments after forcing the first set point, has to lift his spirits as the pair lurch into deuce time and again.
It's unpredictable, this - you have great serves followed by double-faults.
*Murray 5-4 Verdasco
Murray had a few chances to seal the set then - but Verdasco's clinical serving dug him out of trouble and he lives to fight another day.
Verdasco posted the fasted serve of the match during that final game - 135 mph.
Murray 5-5 Verdasco*
Ferocious forehand from Verdasco there - 90 mph forehand ON. THE. RUN to pull back to 40-40.
That's not even human.
He's on the brink of breaking Murray - he's won 67% of his break points so far, or 2/3 - and does the same again.
Murray was so close to taking the opening set - and now he's on the brink of losing it.
*Murray 5-6 Verdasco
We could be in for a long night here.
It's been gripping, the momentum swinging this way and that like a pendulum.
There have been moments of real class, particularly in Verdasco's serves, but also 39 (!) unforced errors.
Right on cue, Murray misses an inviting forehand and ends up in a tangle - and then fires a forehand out as Verdasco leads 15-30.
Verdasco slots one deep and Murray gobbles it up, but Verdasco's 126 mph serve draws a meek reply from Murray, and Verdasco follows up easily to take the game to deuce.
First set taken by Verdasco
*Murray 5-7 Verdasco
Murray had a set point while Verdasco was serving at 5-4, but Verdasco was ruthless and saved his own skin with an ace.
The Scot knows his capabilities but will be angry at himself - his performance was littered with unforced errors and, given the statistics, Verdasco probably should have been out of sight sooner.
He managed 15 winners to Murray's six, but Murray doesn't look to be in a great deal of pain here. 96 degrees Fahrenheit, though, so this may descend into a physical battle.
Murray 5-7 0-0 Verdasco*
The perfect riposte from Murray as he begins brightly - he takes the first game without breaking sweat as he looks to inch his way to the second set.
Metaphorically speaking, obvs. We've spoken about how hot it is out there. He takes the first game with ease, should we say. An encouraging start as he digs in, all defiance in the face of defeat.
*Murray 5-7 1-0 Verdasco
It looks like Verdasco might have figured Murray out a little bit here - he's forced Murray deeper and deeper, right behind the two-metre mark.
You'd like to see Murray on the court a lot more, but I don't know what other option he has given the weight and pace of Verdasco's serve.
Murray's picked up the cheap points after surviving a taxing, hour-long first set - but can't come near Verdasco there, who cleans up at 40-0.
Murray 5-7 1-1 Verdasco*
But Murray's serve carries him back through - his third ace of the day means he takes the third game.
*Murray 5-7 2-1 Verdasco
A terrific exchange has Verdasco and Murray spinning and twisting like a washing machine on spin cycle.
A glorious backhand seals the first point for Verdasco - he almost pirouettes into it. It's genuinely artful.
The venom of Verdasco's delivery looks to have proven the Spaniard's undoing: he seals an ace but then strikes wide on the line, and then Murray manages the final point well to break.
A real show of resilience from the Scot in a set of real quality.
Murray 5-7 3-1 Verdasco*
The highlight of that was Verdasco's spin shot to make it 30-0: it hurtled through the air with pace and venom, looping over Murray to leave the Scot stranded in no man's land.
Verdasco's revelling in his double break point - but his return zips against the net, and he needs one more to get the better of Murray, which he duly does.
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