Andy Murray faced Adrian Mannarino in the second round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows. It was quite a battle for the third-seeded Brit, but he managed to escape with a five set win, coming back from two sets to love down. This was his first such comeback at a major since Wimbledon 2013 when he took out Fernando Verdasco.
First set to the Frenchman after battling in final service game
The third seed did not get off to the best of starts dropping serve in the very first game. Unseeded Frenchman Mannarino consolidated the break in the very next game to have the lead. The Brit broke back on the next French service game and the match was back level at 2-2. The set continued on serve with break points galore but neither converting, until game 11 when the unseeded player pounced and broke the number three seed again. Despite Murray pushing hard to get the break back in the next game, the set went the way of the Frenchman.
Mannarino makes it a two set lead
The second set continued with both players pushing for break points but not converting the chances, it was Murray who blinked first. Mannarino took his chance and would serve for a two set lead at 5-4, the Frenchman served the next game out to love, he was up two sets to love. An upset was on the cards, but you never write the number three seed off, in fact he had been here before.
Murray makes it a match
The third set and the Brit had rediscovered his first serve, that had been missing for most of the first two sets, easing through the first game of the set. The Frenchman was starting to become predictable with serving, which allowed Murray to read it much better, and with a searing backhand return on break point, the Brit was ahead.
Consolidating the break easily the Brit allows Mannarino a game to get on the board. Things really started picking up for the Brit as he had found his stride, sending the Frenchman all around the court as Murray sealed the next game with a full twisting backhand down the line, and he roared with delight. The Frenchman has no answer to anything Murray is now throwing at him and the Brit takes the set 6-1, to finally get on the board.
Going the distance
The fourth set started with Murray still on the front foot, keeping the momentum going from the previous set. Sending the Frenchman all over the court, he was toying with his opponent. Mannarino double faulted on break point and the seed was ahead again,
Despite trying to break back straight away and forcing the Brit to deuce, the seed survived this mini challenge with a couple of big aces. The next few games see both players hold as it went to the business end of the set with the Brit was ahead 5-3. He soon had the set as the Frenchman crumbled in the final game, handing the set to the Brit with yet another double fault.
Comeback complete
The final set saw Murray as the much fresher player, holding serve with ease, whereas the Frenchman was feeling the heat and was broken straight away. The Brit was marching along in the set and again seemed to be toying with his opponent as he breaks again.
The Frenchman gets a consolation service game before Murray breaks again at 5-1 and will serve for the match. With the Murray supporters holding their collective breath, the Brit sealed the comeback holding serve to take the final set 6-1. Well, Mannarino is French after all so a couple of baguettes in the match was fitting. The Brits breath out a sigh of relief as Murray is into the next round.