US Open 2018 Day 3: Murray Crashes Out, Nadal Cruises Past Pospisil

Andy Murray’s struggle for form continued as he crashed out of the US Open on Day 3 after losing in four sets to Fernando Verdasco in the second round Wednesday.

The Scot, who only recently returned from a long-term injury layoff, is still searching for his best form with a quarter-finals appearance his best of the season thus far.

Murray spent almost 12 months on the sidelines with a hip injury and only returned to action in June this year. Murray struggled with the soaring temperatures in New York as he went down 5-7, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6 to the Spaniard in three hours and 23 minutes.

"It wasn't the most comfortable I felt on a tennis court. I got through it and fought right to the end," Murray said after the game, as quoted on BBC Sport.

Despite his loss in the second round the former world number one was happy that he could play some of his best tennis since making his return from injury earlier this year.

"There were periods in the match where I played some really good stuff," the Scot added. "But there were some where I didn't — especially in the first set — and that was costly for me."

Meanwhile, top seed Rafael Nadal cruised into the third round with the straight sets win over Canadian Vasek Pospisil. The Spaniard played just two sets in his opening match after David Ferrer retired, but got back into rhythm against Pospisil.

The defending champion is one of the pre-tournament favorites along with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic and his current form puts him in good stead to make the latter stages of the tournament. He came through his match 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in two hours and will next face number 27 seed Karen Khachanov for a place in the fourth round.

The other top seeds in the men’s draw, namely Juan Martin del Potro, Kevin Anderson and Dominic Thiem also made it through to the third round. But young Greek sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas, who made the final at the Rogers Cup earlier this year, crashed out against fellow youngster Daniel Medvedev.

Three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka, who is unseeded at the tournament owing to his low ranking also progressed to the third round with a win over Ugo Humbert. He had earlier beaten number eight seed Grigor Dimitrov in the first round.

In the women’s draw, the highly anticipated clash between Serena Williams and Venus Williams will take place Friday after the sisters won their respective second round clashes against Carina Witthoeft and Camila Giorgi. Defending champion Sloane Stephens also progressed to the third round, but needed three sets to beat Anhelina Kalinina.

Federer and Djokovic will headline Day 4 in the men’s draw, while Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber and world number two Caroline Wozniacki will be the main attraction in the women’s draw on Thursday.