Andy Murray arrived at Arthur Ashe Stadium conscious of the fact that this was a match he could not afford to lose.
Over the past year, Murray has recorded a number of strong wins against highly ranked players, but he has often been unable to use them as catalysts for deeper runs or greater consistency. After a great straight sets first‑round win against Francisco Cerundolo, the 24th seed, it was essential that he consolidated his form appropriately in a match he was heavily favoured to win.