Andy Murray faces one of his toughest challenges yet on his comeback from hip surgery as he takes on No 31 seed Fernando Verdasco in the second round of the US Open.
The former world No 1 has 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 is 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 is his first Grand Slam back since Wimbledon last year and has the potential to go to five sets for the first time in more than 13 months. The winner will take on either Denis Kudla or former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in the third round, with Murray paying the price for his world No 382 ranking.
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21:57
*Murray 5-7 3-2 Verdasco (* denotes next server)
The ideal response from Murray - gutsy and determined, he forces an error from Verdasco to break.
21:51
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.
21:47
*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.
21:41
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.
21:40
*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.
21:36
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.
21:33
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.
21:29
*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.
21:23
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.
21:18
*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.
21:16
*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.
21:10
*Murray 5-4 Verdasco
A big hold from Murray, that.
In their last 14 meetings, Murray has only lost once when he's won the first set.
You might not believe past form is indicative of future action, but winning the first set is always a good barometer.
21:08
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.
21:03
*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.
21:01
*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.
20:58
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.
20:56
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.
20:53
*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.
20:50
*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.
20:48
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.
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