- Scot pushes third seed in five-set thriller at Flushing Meadows
- Former world No 1 eventually falls 2-6, 7-6(7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
When the US Open revealed that Andy Murray had been drawn in the first round against Stefanos Tsitsipas, the in-form third seed, the reaction from many onlookers was of anguish and pity. Another week, another slice of brutal luck, it was said. In his pre-tournament press conference, Murray was asked about his inability to “catch a break”.
But this is Andy Murray, still a former world No 1, still the most competitive and dogged person in most rooms he has ever entered, and so he simply took it as a challenge to produce his very best tennis. Astoundingly, that is precisely what he did as he so nearly pulled off a monumental win, leading Tsitsipas by two sets to one before gracefully falling 2-6, 7-6(7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 after four hours and 48 minutes.
Related: Stefanos Tsitsipas beats Andy Murray in five sets at US Open – as it happened
Related: Johanna Konta withdraws from US Open hours before first-round match
