US Open: Andy Murray through to last 16 after straight set win over Florian Mayer

Andy Murray secured a place in the last 16 of the US Open after a straight-sets victory over German Florian Mayer at a sweltering Flushing Meadows yesterday.

Murray took just under two hours on Arthur Ashes court to see off Mayer 7-6 6-2 6-2 in humid conditions that tested the fitness of both players.

Mayer mixed it up well with the defending US Open and Wimbledon champion during the opening set, but Murray turned on the style to take the tie breaker.

Both players had plenty of iced towels on their chairs to try and fend off the sweltering humidity, but it was Mayer who found Murray too hot to handle in the remaining two sets.

The British No 1 broke Mayer early in the second set to lay a marker down and he finished it off with a break in the eighth game to take it 6-2.

Murray then repeated the dose in the final set with a break of serve in the final game of the match sealing his place in the fourth round.

The Scottish player was pleased to have survived the conditions and to keep his bid to become just the eighth man to successfully defend the US Open title on track.

“It was very tough conditions,” said Murray after his win.

“He’s a very tricky opponent. He plays strange shots and he takes your time away, it’s tough to get into a rhythm. I’m really glad to come through in three sets.

“It cooled down a little bit towards the end but the first and second sets it was very hot. We’ve been told a thunderstorm is coming so hopefully that will take away some of the humidity.”

The Scot will play the unseeded Denis Istomin in the fourth round after the man from Uzbekistan beat Andreas Seppi 6-3 6-4 2-6 3-6 6-1.