Andy Murray’s grand slam comeback ended with a second-round defeat by 31st seed Fernando Verdasco at a baking hot Flushing Meadows.

The three-time grand slam champion stressed expectations should be severely tempered going into the tournament, with these still very much the early stages of his return to tennis, and there was plenty to be encouraged by.

But ultimately Verdasco proved too strong, hitting 17 more winners and only two more unforced errors than his opponent in a 7-5 2-6 6-4 6-4 victory that lasted three hours and 23 minutes.

Murray threw everything he had at the final game in an effort to break back but it proved to be in vain.

Coupled with Cameron Norrie’s defeat by Dusan Lajovic, this is the first time since the French Open in 2013 that Britain has not had a singles representative in the third round of a grand slam.

Temperatures were in the mid-30s when Murray and Verdasco walked out on to Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The pair are old rivals, with Murray having won 13 of their previous 14 matches, but most were tight and Verdasco’s resurgence this season at the age of 34 made this a much better test of his form and fitness than his first-round clash with James Duckworth.

Andy Murray was playing in just his second grand slam match in more than a year
Andy Murray was playing in just his second grand slam match in more than a year (Andres Kudacki/AP)

Murray would have known that he could not afford to start as slowly as he had on Monday and his movement was certainly sharper.

In a topsy-turvy opening set, Murray was a break down and then a break up before forcing a set point at 4-5, which Verdasco saved with an ace. A double fault then gave the Spaniard another break and this time he held on to it to clinch the set.

Overall it was a positive start, including some classic Murray defence,  just an understandable lack of match tightness in what was still only his ninth match following hip surgery.

Murray was standing halfway up the court to receive Verdasco’s second serve and having plenty of success, although his own second delivery was also proving vulnerable, particularly to the Spaniard’s weighty forehand.

Murray was still moving awkwardly between points and still looks a touch slow when pulled out wide on his forehand side, but he responded well in the second set as Verdasco dropped his level.

Andy Murray battled on in sweltering conditions
Andy Murray battled on in sweltering conditions (Andres Kudacki/AP)

Both players’ shirts were soaked in sweat and it was Murray who lost energy at the start of the third set, quickly trailing 4-1. He retrieved one break but not the second, Verdasco thumping a backhand cross-court to clinch the set.

Murray carried his disappointment into the 10-minute heat break, introduced for the first time in men’s matches this tournament, and returned fuming, telling the umpire: “He’s sitting there with his coach and his doubles partner. I had to tell them, because nobody knows the f***ing rules.”

Players are not allowed to talk to their coaches or any member of their support team during the break.

Murray is usually at his best when aggrieved by something and he came out pumped up at the start of the fourth set, whipping up the crowd after one particularly impressive rally.

Andy Murray was fired up in the fourth set
Andy Murray was fired up in the fourth set (Andres Kudacki/AP)

But Verdasco was also looking strong and he weathered the storm, taking advantage of a very poor game from Murray to break for 4-3.

Verdasco has a reputation for struggling to close out matches and some nervy play gave Murray two break points at 5-4 only for the Spaniard to produce two big serves.

One match point disappeared with a forehand hooked wide, and Verdasco was furious to be given a time violation at break point after the shot clock, used at a grand slam for the first time, ticked down to zero.

But Murray just could not find a way to get back on level terms and it is the Spaniard who moves through to a third-round clash with Juan Martin del Potro.