It may be a while before Andy Murray believes he is a genuine contender again for grand slam titles but in the heat of the US Open here yesterday, the Scot proved that if there is any way at all, he will find it.

Less than eight months after hip surgery, Murray produced his best performance since he began his comeback in June, not least given the blistering heat of the afternoon, before finally going down 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Spain’s Fernando Verdasco.

Though his second-round defeat by the No 31 seed will inevitably be a disappointment, given the way he played, he will surely be encouraged that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Murray’s defensive skills were close to their very best as he ran down ball after ball, taking the best that Verdasco had to throw at him and giving it back, with interest.

Time and again the left-handed Spaniard, who possesses one of the biggest forehands in the game, seemed to have the point won, with Murray on a string, tearing side to side across the baseline, only for the 31-year-old to somehow win the point.

In the end, one loose game, at 3-3 in the fourth set, proved his undoing and Verdasco, who hit 52 winners, held on to reach the third round, where he will play third seed Juan Martin Del Potro.

The match began with temperatures peaking at 96 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius), and Murray received a time warning before the match even began, not ready within the minute required after the warm-up.

Having won 13 of their 14 previous meetings, Murray must have felt he had a psychological edge, particularly when he turned around an early deficit to lead 4-2.

A brilliant backhand pass gave Verdasco the break back, though, in the very next game and the 34-year-old Spaniard held for 4-4.

Murray moved ahead 5-4 and a big backhand return on the first point of the next game put him in front. A superb forehand set up set point, only for Verdasco to save it with an ace.

Going for a big second serve, Murray then double-faulted to give Verdasco the break for 6-5 and though Murray had a chance to break back, the left-hander closed the door with a forehand winner.

The first set had taken over an hour and had both men dripping with sweat but Murray shrugged off the disappointment of losing the first set to hit back.

Three straight breaks, from 2-1, left Murray in charge at 4-2 and unlike the first set, he pressed home the advantage, Verdasco double-faulting to make it one set all.

One break at the start of the third set put Verdasco back in front and he held the advantage throughout the set as Murray, chuntering in the direction of his box, was frustrated at not being able to get the break back.

At the end of the set, Verdasco motioned to his team in the stands, asking if he should go off for a 10-minute break, as allowed under the heat rule, in operation for a second straight day.

When they returned, Murray told the umpire that Verdasco had been speaking to his team in the locker-room before he had told the Spaniard. “No one knows the fxxxing rules”.

The two men continued to go toe to toe in the fourth set, with Murray winning a brilliant rally early on as he gave it everything.

But at 3-3, his concentration gave out as he was broken to love and serving at 5-4, Verdasco saved five break points to close out for victory.