NEW YORK, (Reuters) – An ailing Andy Murray suffered a shock exit from the U.S. Open when he beaten 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 6-3 by Swiss 25th seed Stanislas Wawrinka in the third round yesterday.
The fourth-seeded Scot served for a two sets to love lead but then suffered a left thigh problem and Wawrinka, who also had treatment for a thigh injury, recovered to win after three hours 56 minutes.
“I just tried to focus on being really aggressive,” an elated Wawrinka said in a courtside interview.
The defeat handed Murray his earliest defeat at a grand slam event since he was beaten at the same stage in the French Open in 2008.
Murray, the runner-up in New York in 2008 and also at the Australian Open this year, began slowly but bounced back from 5-2 down to win the first set on a tie-break.
The Scot stormed to a 3-0 lead in the second set and though he was broken in the fifth game, he then broke Wawrinka again to lead 5-3.
At 5-4 and 30-30 on his own serve, he was two points from taking a two-set lead but Wawrinka became more aggressive and after breaking back, snatched the resultant tie-break 7-4 to level the match.
Murray then broke in the opening game of the third set but immediately dropped his serve and in the next game, it seemed that he was struggling with his movement, especially to his left.
Murray’s service speed also dropped and Wawrinka then broke again in the fourth game on his way to a 4-1 lead, before Murray had treatment on his left thigh.
The Swiss then pulled up in the next game and had to have his right thigh strapped but still it was Murray who was struggling the most and Wawrinka held on to take the set.
The pair traded breaks at the start of the fourth set but Wawrinka broke again in the fifth game and though Murray saved one match point, a forehand long handed the Swiss another break and the match.
Wawrinka will play American 20th seed Sam Querrey in the fourth round today.
