NEW YORK -- In arguably the biggest upset so far at the 2010 U.S. Open, the No. 4-seeded Andy Murray lost in four sets on Sunday to No. 25-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-3. Murray is the highest seed to lose in the men's bracket.Murray, a favorite to advance to at least the semifinals, was slowed throughout the second half of the match by injuries. He received medical treatment in the third and fourth sets. Even with his Murray affected by the injury, Wawrinka was a most deserving victor. He advances to the fourth round, where he will meet No. 20 seed Sam Querrey.
In his post-match press conference, Murray disclosed that his treatment in the third set was for "tightness in my quad." The visit from the trainer in the fourth set was to treat "pins and needles around my right elbow."
To Murray's credit, he did not blame the loss on the injuries. "He played better than me," Murray said of Wawrinka. "There's not a whole lot more to it. He served very well when he needed to, just played a better match.
Throughout close to four hours of shot-making, two shots stood above the rest for Wawrinka. Up two sets to one and on-serve at 2-2 in the fourth, Wawrinka hit the most spectacular and important shot of the match. With Murray serving and up 40-30, Wawrinka hit a backhand drop shot from behind the baseline that sailed barely over the net and spun toward the umpire's chair. Murray didn't have a chance on Wawrinka's improbable shot and went on to lose the game.
In the final game, with Murray serving, Wawrinka executed a turn-around backhand passing shot while chasing a ball over his head. He blasted the ball down the near baseline past a stunned Murray while the crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium stood and roared.
Murray was in trouble from the outset. The native of Scotland fought back impressively early on, down a break at 5-2 in the first set. He tied the set at 5-5 and handily won the tiebreaker, 7-3. After that, it was Wawrinka's day.
Wawrinka, a 25-year-old from Switzerland, served 13 aces to Murray's five and won 77 percent of his first serve points. He also broke Murray seven times, unheard of for the runner-up at the 2008 U.S. Open. Murray lost last year in the fourth round to Marin Cilic.
Murray had easily defeated Wawrinka in the fourth round the 2008 U.S. Open in straight sets 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 and was 5-3 in his career against Wawrinka prior to Sunday. He said he was not discouraged by his inability to win a Grand Slam tournament at this stage of his career, but could not predict the future.
"I have no idea whether I'll win a Grand Slam or not," said Murray. "I want to. If I never win one, then what? If I give a hundred percent, try my best, physically work as hard as I can, practice as much as I can, then that's all I can do. It's something I would love to do. It's a very difficult thing. I don't know if I'll win a Grand Slam or not, but I'll give it my best shot."




