Victorious Murray glad of five-set test

Nineteenth seed Murray, who missed both the French Open and Wimbledon due to a wrist injury, completed his second victory in four days at Flushing Meadows, New York, last night to reach the third round of the final grand slam of the year.

The British number one came from a set down to beat the Swedish veteran 5-7 6-3 6-1 4-6 6-1 in 80 degree heat to bring his record in five-set matches to four wins and four losses.

“I think this was great for me,” Murray, 20, said. “Obviously you don’t want to play too many five-setters in a slam too early on but in the position I’ve been in, having hardly played for the last five months, to play a match like that and come through it is great for your confidence.

“I hit more balls in that match than I had in a long time. It was a good test for my body to have.”

n Tim Henman believes his return to form at the US Open is partly down to the release he felt at announcing his retirement.

Henman, 32, turned back the clock in New York on Wednesday to beat 27th seed Dmitry Tursunov of Russia in four sets and today faces Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a second-round match.

Henman has been given a slot on the show court at Louis Armstrong Stadium.