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 5-7 6-2 4-6 4-5 Verdasco (* denotes next server)
"FOCUS!" Andy Murray mouths, after bellowing at the floor in frustration.
50 winners from Verdasco - truly spectacular, that - but this one is too tight to call. The frailties and brittleness of these two, at this stage, are coming to the fore - we see the first double fault of the set as Murray leads 30-15.
Verdasco's serves are as awesome as ever - Murray, who has one of the best returns in the game, fires two returns awry as Verdasco claws his way to an advantage.
After an edgy start, the Spaniard has looked secure - and one more point will secure his passage to the third round.
*Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 4-5 Verdasco (* denotes next server)
We're in to deuce, again. Murray's tenacity and self-belief would be delusional in anyone else - he still believes he can get back into this.
It's hard to believe people felt Murray was too soft as a teenager, given the grit he's shown here.
Murray's just taken this to break point with a superb backhand to catch Verdasco out and he has the chance to resuscitate this. But Verdasco draws level to take it to deuce for a third time.
*Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 4-5 Verdasco (* denotes next server)
Ooohhh - Verdasco bickering with the umpires here. Reckon it's something to do with the timings for the serve, which Murray was pulled up for in the first game.
In the end, it means he smacks his serve into the middle of next week - or, more precisely, down the T, and Murray's return is an easy one for Verdasco to shepherd out to go to deuce for the fourth time.
And then it's advantage Murray - this single game has lasted almost ten minutes.
*Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 4-5 Verdasco (* denotes next server)
Verdasco's 130 mph serve sees Murray botch his return, and it's easy for the Spaniard to do the formalities to take it to deuce five.
He then notches up his fastest second serve of the match - a measly 124 mph - to give himself a second chance to close out the match.
Verdasco wins!
*Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 4-6 Verdasco (* denotes next server)
... And he doesn't take it. Murray responds. Six deuces in this 11 minute game. LOL.
But there we have it! He is rock solid mentally as he navigates through that nervy final set for only his second victory over Murray in 14 attempts.
Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 4-6 Verdasco
So, where does this leave today's competitors?
Fernando Verdasco is through to the third round, obviously, where he'll face Argentine Juan Martín Del Potro - one of the crowd favourites here, and who defeated America's Denis Kudla in straight sets on the Lewis Armstrong court earlier today.
Verdasco's also banished a few personal demons - I can't imagine the mental strength needed to go toe-to-toe with Murray, after so many setbacks today as Murray proved so stubborn and staunch. What's more, that's the first time he's beaten Murray in nine years: you have to go all the way back to the Australian Open in 2009 to get the last time.
Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 4-6 Verdasco
"I think, with Andy, it's always close - not just to close it, but to play every point," says Verdasco. It's high praise, but it was the Spaniard who stole the show and dominated throughout - he played 52 winners today.
"He's an unbelievable fighter, not just with the surgery and everything," he concludes. That's certainly the case: Murray kept going and got right under Verdasco's skin in a game fraught with tension and nerve. But Verdasco deserves huge credit for his game management in a terrific contest.
Still, there are positives to take for an Andy Murray who's still rehabilitating. It was certainly a match he could have won - it's crazy to think how differently this could have worked out had he not bypassed that chance to take an early set point.
Goodnight - or good morning?!
Murray 5-7 6-2 4-6 4-6 Verdasco
This is the point where I love you and leave you. It's been a marathon night and a pleasure to spend it with you - we've covered some ground between us, haven't we? Almost as much as Murray and Verdasco, I'd say. We've jumped from Take Me Out to Craig David to Nokia bricks and Wolf of Wall Street - and some tennis has been played, too.
Anyway, I'm going to bed. Let's do this again some time - when we've recovered from this one.
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