US Open 2022 LIVE: Andy Murray beats Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets

Next up for Murray will be either Australia’s John Millman or the 20-year-old American Emilio Nava.

“It felt like five sets to me! It was very tricky conditions out here, very humid, I had to play well against a player who has had a great season.”

He says it’s great to have Ivan Lendl in the box supporting him, after being asked about their exchange of glances and comments during the match.

On the 10-year anniversary of his 2012 US Open victory, Murray says: “It seems a long time ago, it was a huge moment for me getting my first grand slam.”

Andy Murray sweeps through the game to seal the deal, and shares a long chat with Cerundolo at the net, presumably offering some encouraging words to a young player with plenty more to offer in the future.

Andy Murray looks a little bothered by the sun which is now streaming into his eyes as he serves. He loses the first two points of the game meekly before firing back with a powerful forehand down the line to get to 15-30. An excellent serve sets up a simple winner to make it 30-all, but Cerundolo then wins an entertaining rally to earn a break point, and sees it out, too, to break.

Cerundolo fights well, getting to the net and volleying a winner to bring up 30-all before Murray slices a backhand into the net, and another error from the former US Open champion gives his opponent one more game on the board. Murray will serve for the match.

Murray gets to 40-30 before a Cerundolo error cedes the game, and the Argentine will serve to stay in the match.

The pair exchange a long series of backhands before Murray drags one wide to gift Cerundolo the first point on his serve. Murray makes an almost identical mistake a moment later as Cerundolo moves to 30-15, and eventually they muddle their way to deuce with some fairly uninspiring stuff, before Cerundolo swings wildly at a forehand which goes long, to give up another break.

Murray wastes no time rushing through his own service game to preserve his single break advantage in the third.

Cerundolo earns a game back to get on the board in this third set, with a surprisingly comfortable hold to 15.

Murray wins the second game and is cruising here at the Louis Armstrong Stadium. Elsewhere Britain’s Kyle Edmund is up against French Open finallist Casper Ruud, who is a break up in the first set.