Murray Makes US Exit

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Andy Murray's challenge for the US Open title has ended in the fourth round after an enthralling four-set defeat by Kevin Anderson.

The British No 1 seemed to have set the scene for another thrilling comeback after falling two sets down, but Anderson ruthlessly sealed a 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-0).

Murray had previously reached the quarter-finals of every Grand Slam he has competed in since the 2010 US Open.

"I'm a little lost for words right now," the 29-year-old Anderson said. "I just managed to keep my composure throughout."

Both men refused to give ground in a tense opening set, with Anderson repelling three break points at 2-2 as Murray pushed for an early breakthrough.

Entering the tie-break, Murray unleashed a sweeping backhand to win a 29-shot rally, but Anderson had the last word as he sent back a punched backhand to bring up set point and converted it with a thumping forehand.

The inspired Anderson built on his lead in the second set, claiming his first break for a 2-0 lead after Murray fired long. Every ball appeared to be falling kindly for Anderson, who broke again following a thrilling close-range exchange.

Murray at last dented his opponent's searing serve with a break of his own, but Anderson converted set point at the fifth time of asking for a 2-0 lead in sets.

The third set was delayed by Anderson's lengthy comfort break and he further infuriated the Scot by claiming an immediate break for a 1-0 lead.

Snarling at himself, Murray aggressively attacked the Anderson serve and broke back to level straight away, soon adding another during a determined onslaught.

This opening was short lived as the Brit battered his racquet after conceding yet another break and was dragged into another tie-break.

But a fired-up Murray hauled back a set with the help of a fortunate net cord and pumped his fist towards an equally excitable New York crowd. 

The raucous cheers turned to anxious muttering as Murray fended off break points early in the fourth set and he faced another nervy test at 5-6, bringing up the tie-break with a swerving ace. 

But Anderson blasted into an unassailable lead with his cannon-like serve to set up a quarter-final showdown with French Open champion Stan Wawrinka after Murray netted his return.

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Nadal Knocked Out in US

Rafael Nadal said he 'fought until the last point' in his US Open five-set defeat by Fabio Fognini.

The world No 8 exited the tournament in a third-round thriller which went the way of the Italian with a 3-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 victory.

The loss means Nadal will now finish the season without a major title for the first time since 2004, but he insists he gave it his best shot.

"I fought until the last point but I didn't do enough to win and I've lost a lot of matches this year like this," Nadal said.

"My mind allows me to fight to the end and sometimes in my career I haven't been able to do it.

We look at Rafael Nadal's year in the majors after another early exit

"The crowd was amazing and the support I got gave me a very special feeling. I enjoyed that and I tried to fight, I believe I did.

"But it was not enough. The only thing that means is I played worse than the last 10 years.

"That's the real thing. By the way, for me it was amazing to win a grand slam 10 years in a row. I think nobody did. You can imagine how difficult it is to make that happen.

"I accept this was not my year and keep fighting till the end of the season to finish in a positive way for me." 

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Nadal Happy Being Honest

Rafael Nadal continued his bid for a third US Open title by beating Diego Schwartzman in the second round, and after the match claimed criticism of his form has gone too far.

Despite his lack of stature, 5ft 7in Argentine Schwartzman presented a difficult challenge for eighth seed Nadal and took the opening set to a tie-break.

The world No 74 built a 5-3 lead in the breaker, only for Nadal to raise his game and take it 7-5.

Schwartzman continued to make life difficult for his illustrious opponent in the second set, breaking serve for an early 2-0 lead.

The break back came in the next game though and Nadal forced another in the seventh for a 4-3 lead before breaking once more to take the set 6-3.

However, Schwartzman wasn't going out without a fight and despite failing to convert any of three break points at the start of the third set, the 23-year-old later broke to lead 3-2.

Spaniard Nadal battled back once again though, levelling at 4-4, and eventually tamed his confident opponent, winning 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 7-5 with a break in the 12th game.

That set up a third round meeting with Italy's Fabio Fognini, who has beaten Nadal twice this year.

Nadal has failed to reach the last four of a Grand Slam so far this year but after the win against Schwartzman he took a swipe at critics who he feels have exaggerated his recent decline.

"I am No 8 in the world. I am not No 100," Nadal said. "It seems like I am No 200 in every press conference.

"After I arrive here happy with the victory, [it is made out that] I go back to the locker room saying how bad I am. Every day.

"For the fans, it is normal that they are worried because I am worried, too. If I am not playing well, I am the first one who worries."

Nadal also defended his policy of honesty after admitting to a loss of confidence earlier this year following a shock defeat to fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in Miami.

"It seems like I come here and if I am telling the truth, it is bad," Nadal said.

"If I explain if I am playing with nerves or with anxiety, like I did in Miami, and I say that after in the press conference, then I don't know what you want of me.

"People say, 'Why do you say that? Why are you that honest? You give confidence to the opponent'.

"I believe what happens outside the court, what we are talking about here, is going to effect zero per cent the next result.

"The thing is you play well, you have chances to win; you play bad, you will lose. The sport is simple."

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Sharapova Out of US Open

Maria Sharapova has pulled out of the US Open on the eve of the tournament.

The Russian world No3 has been struggling with a muscle strain in her right leg and has not played a competitive match since losing to Serena Williams in the Wimbledon semi-finals just over seven weeks ago.

She travelled to New York for the year’s final grand slam tournament, but announced a day before the start that she had withdrawn.

Sharapova wrote on her Facebook page: “Unfortunately I will not be able to compete in this years US Open. I have done everything possible to be ready but it was just not enough time. To all my amazing fans, I will be back in the Asian swing in a few weeks and look forward to finishing the year healthy and strong.”

Sharapova will be replaced in the draw by the Russian, Daria Kasatkina, who will now play Daria Gavrilova.

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Serena Ends Year No.1

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Serena Williams will end the year as the number one female player in the world after a phenomenal campaign which saw the American win two Grand Slams.

The 32-year-old has lost just four matches this year, winning nine titles, including the French and US Open.

It is the third time she has topped the rankings at the end of a calendar year.

Williams became the oldest player to hold the number one positionwhen, aged 31, the 17-time Grand Slam winner replaced Victoria Azarenka in February.

"Serena has proven time and time again throughout her career that she is an incredible champion, both on and off the court," said Women's Tennis Association (WTA) chairman and chief executive Stacey Allaster.

"This season she continues to rewrite the record books, proving she is one of the sport's greatest athletes of all time."

Williams will be presented with her trophy during the season-ending WTA Championships in Istanbul next month.

She will be joined by China's Li Na, who became the fifth player to qualify for the event, following in the footsteps of Williams, Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska.

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Serena Wins Fifth US Open

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Serena Williams would have felt disappointed with her season had she not seen off Victoria Azarenka to win the US Open for a fifth time.

At 31, the American is more dominant than she has ever been, and her 7-5 6-7 (6/8) 6-1 victory over Azarenka in New York gave her a ninth title of the year.

She has lost only four matches all season, but two of those have come in grand slams, where traditionally she has been at her strongest.

When Azarenka recovered from 4-1 down to take the second set with Williams having twice served for the match, it seemed the world number one may have to contemplate more slam disappointment.

But Williams responded superbly and won the third set easily to add the US Open to the French Open title she clinched in June.

She said: "I felt almost disappointed with my year, to be honest. I felt like, yeah, I won the French Open, but I wasn't happy with my performances in the other two slams, and not even making it to the quarter-finals of one.

"So I definitely feel a lot better with at least a second grand slam under my belt this year."

Williams' victory gave her a 17th grand slam singles title, moving her level with Roger Federer and only one behind both Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

"It's an honour to be even with Roger," said Williams. "He's been such a great champion throughout the years, and he's just an unbelievable competitor and he's still playing, and he can probably still win more.

"He's just been so incredibly consistent, so we have had really different careers.

"Then to be compared with Chrissy and Martina - I can't necessarily compare myself to them, because numbers-wise they're still greater."

There were high hopes the match would be as dramatic as last year's final between the pair, which Williams won after Azarenka had served for the title, and it did not disappoint.

Williams struggled with the wind in the first set especially, casting panicked glances at her box and appearing distracted by her billowing dress and hair.

But Azarenka could not capitalise, and it looked like Williams would cruise to victory when she moved 4-1 ahead with two breaks of serve in the second set.

Azarenka is as big a fighter as Williams, though, and she hung on grimly and then seized her chance when the American got tight.

Twice Williams served for the match and twice Azarenka broke back, and the Belarusian went on to take the tie-break on her third opportunity.

It seemed like it would be a tough set for Williams to bounce back from but the world number one refocused and pulled away to clinch victory after two hours and 45 minutes.

Williams said: "I obviously would have preferred to close it out in straight sets. But going against a great opponent like Victoria, you have to be able to realise that that can happen and you have to keep fighting for everything.

"I thought, 'I have to stay positive'. It was very easy to get down. I didn't want to get down on myself.

"I wanted to be a little strict with myself so I could play better. I wanted to do different things and try to have a better performance."

Williams admitted she did not deal with the wind as well as she might have, saying: "The wind was unbelievable. It just got worse and worse. It never let up.

"But at this point you have to be able to play under any circumstances. It wasn't very easy. I think I made a lot of errors because of that. I definitely could have moved my feet better."

Azarenka was in tears at the end but felt there was nothing more she could have done.

The world number two described the determination of both players as rising like boiling water, and she said: "It was a great match.

"There was no let down. I think in the third set the momentum changed a little bit, and I kind of felt like I lost that momentum.

"But she really made it happen. In that particular moment she was tougher. She was more consistent and she deserved to win.

"I wish I could have done something better. I felt like I had opportunities in the first set as well. But it's okay. I did everything I could.

"The game overall, there are things that could have been better. But I gave my heart. I fought as hard as I could.

"So that's what is important for me, that I lost to a great champion. But I'm still going to have my head up."

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Hewitt Stuns Del Potro

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Lleyton Hewitt displayed the same shots and grit that earned him a US Open trophy a dozen years ago on the way to the No. 1 ranking.

Now 32, and ranked 66th, Hewitt came back to surprise 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-1 Friday night in the second round at Flushing Meadows.

"I don't know how many years I've got left in me. I keep getting asked the question," Hewitt said an on-court interview. "I'm just pumped to get out on this court and try to put on a great show."

The 4-hour, 3-minute match was the ninth time in the past 10 years that two past US Open title winners faced each other in New York. Hewitt was involved four times, losing the other three.

He won the US Open in 2001 by beating Pete Sampras in the final, and then added a Wimbledon title the following year. But he has been troubled by a series of injuries more recently and lost in the first round at four of his last six Grand Slam tournaments.

"A couple years ago, when I had a couple foot surgeries, I didn't know if I was going to play tennis again," Hewitt said.

"For me to be out here competing, it's a ... lot of fun. I cherish every match I get out there. This is why I still play, to have moments like this," he continued. "Sometimes playing the smaller tournaments, it's hard to get up for. It's not hard to get up for here, that's for sure."

Against the sixth-seeded del Potro, who is 24, the Australian repeatedly scrambled along the baseline to stretch for terrific groundstrokes.

"He's a great champion, a great fighter, and for the second round, he's a very difficult player to play," del Potro said.

While the men hit about the same number of winners -- Hewitt had 42, del Potro 41 -- the biggest difference was in the unforced error department. Looking sluggish at times, and particularly ineffective off his generally weaker backhand side, del Potro finished with a whopping 70 errors, 27 more than Hewitt.

"The wrist is not the way I'd like, but it's not an excuse," said del Potro, who did not try to defend his US Open title in 2010, because of a left wrist injury that required surgery. "Now I have a few days to rest."

It was a match filled with momentum shifts. Hewitt got broken when he served for the first set at 5-4, and again when he served for the fourth at 5-3. Still, he eventually managed to claim the latter by playing what he termed "one of the best tiebreaks of my life."

Already ahead 4-0, Hewitt smacked a backhand passing winner down the line from a full stretch, then followed that with a cross-court forehand passing winner to earn set points. After del Potro erased the first with a service winner, he double-faulted to send the match to a fifth set.

And that's when Hewitt really took over, which makes sense considering the two players' records in such lengthy matches. This was the 51st five-setter of Hewitt's career, and he improved to 32-19. Del Potro, meanwhile, dropped to 4-8.

Hewitt next faces 102nd-ranked Evgeny Donskoy of Russia.

"I hit with him a couple of days ago," Hewitt said. "First time I'd ever seen him."

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