First-round result:

A MURRAY (GB) bt R Kendrick (US)

6-2 1-6 6-3 6-3

* denotes server

Fourth set:

Murray 6-3 Kendrick
Murray earns three match points at 0-40 and he takes the second when Kendrick signs off with a huge mishit on serve that endangers the ball boys. On the next court. A decent effort from Murray, if patchy, and he knows he will need to improve.

Murray 5-3 Kendrick
OK, this is getting silly. Kendrick is swinging at everything now and it's paying off. He breaks to love.

Murray 5-2 Kendrick
Kendrick keeps the contest alive by holding serve to 30 and Murray will have another go at serving out the match, which has been something of a weakness recently.

Murray 5-1 Kendrick
A forlorn looking Kendrick gets the chance to salvage some pride with two break points, and he does so with a backhand winner on the second.

Murray 5-0 Kendrick
Murray breaks again with another fizzing backhand down the line and poor old Kendrick takes it out on his racquet - although he needs two attempts to make a decent connection with the ground, which sums up his day.

Murray 4-0 Kendrick
"You're missing balls that are going 95mph and dropping right in front of your eyes - wake up!" Murray yells at the umpire as he is taken to deuce. It may be no way to speak to your elders but it does wonders for Murray's form and he wraps up the game in style.

Murray 3-0 Kendrick
Murray steps up a gear and leaves Kendrick behind. The Scot quickly moves 15-40 up and then moves his man around before punching a forehand into the gap he has created. Murray then does his best Rafael Nadal impresion with a punch and a skip on his way to the chair.

Murray 2-0 Kendrick
Nothing is ever straightforward when there's a Briton playing. A sloppy Murray backhand hands Kendrick an unlikely break point and when the American moves to the net on the following point he looks ready to convert. Half-a-second later, Murray has hammered a backhand past him so fast that the American falls over, face first. After three deuces, Murray holds.

Murray 1-0 Kendrick
Kendrick uses the changeover to exit stage right for a bathroom break. Murray spends the break chuntering away to the umpire about "consistency" - presumably of line calls. When play resumes, Kendrick - wearing a new T-shirt - kicks off with an error and a double fault. Another woeful drop shot from Kendrick gives Murray break point and the American then nets a volley. A delighted Murray sprints back to his chair and he can see the winning line now.

Third set:

Murray 6-3 Kendrick
Murray is pumped up. At 15-15 he arrows his favourite backhand down the line and follows up with ace for two set points. A routine forehand is then netted before Kendrick makes a backhand error. Murray clenches his fist, glances towards coach Brad Gilbert and marches back to his chair. Surely he's got it in the bag now?

Murray 5-3 Kendrick
Murray has a golden opportunity to take control again at 15-40 up but Kendrick produces a magnificent forehand winner followed by a superb backhand that apparently clips the line. Murray is not convinced - "that's a ridiculous call" he shouts, prompting a few boos from the locals. Unperturbed the Scot continues to dominate and on his second break point of the game he brings another forehand error from Kendrick.

Murray 4-3 Kendrick
A much better game sees a quick hold from Murray and at the moment it's Kendrick who has gone off the boil.

Murray 3-3 Kendrick
Kendrick looks to be cruising at 40-15 but Murray gets back to deuce with a deft backhand drop half-volley. Kendrick holds his nerve and serves out the game.

Murray 3-2 Kendrick
Well, it's not easy but Murray gets back in front again. He needs several deuces and again sees a couple of returns fly past him but Kendrick is now making errors again and Murray holds serve.

Murray 2-2 Kendrick
A huge game. Kendrick does drop his level slightly and a forehand error gives Murray a break point, but the American takes the initiative in the vital rally and finishes it with a huge forehand down the line. Murray earns another chance with a superb return but Kendrick slams the door with an ace. A third chance comes along and Murray remains passive but it pays off when Kendrick nets a forehand.

Murray 1-2 Kendrick
Murray ends a run of three poor games by holding to 15 and he will hope that signals a slump from Kendrick.

Murray 0-2 Kendrick
Murray is spending most of the time scampering from side to side about 10 feet behind the baseline trying to return Kendrick's heavy groundstrokes. Another Kendrick winner on game point is a close call but Murray is relatively subdued and he needs a boost from somewhere.

Murray 0-1 Kendrick
Things are getting more serious for Murray now as Kendrick hits top form. He has a little luck with a net cord on his way to break point but deserves it for some fearless hitting. Murray puts a backhand wide and he's a break down already.

Second set:

Murray 1-6 Kendrick
Kendrick throws in his first double fault but still serves out the set confidently, wrapping it up with an ace, and Murray is in a match now.

Murray 1-5 Kendrick
Murray's second serve is coming under more and more pressure as Kendrick finds his range. He holds serve to avoid the dreaded bagel but the intensity has gone for the moment.

Murray 0-5 Kendrick
A combination of Kendrick's improved form and Murray's apparent disinterest in the rest of this set helps the American hold to love.

Murray 0-4 Kendrick
Kendrick's new-found confidence leads him to attempt a drop shot of his own - not a wise move. The ball barely makes the net let alone gets over it. However, his more bludgeoning groundstrokes are working better now and three winners give him another break point. Another double fault from Murray and this set has all but gone now.

Murray 0-3 Kendrick
A thumping service game from the now rejuvenated Kendrick leaves Murray trailing by three games, and the Briton has made life more difficult than he had to here.

Murray 0-2 Kendrick
After his excellent first set, Murray looks a little flat. He is annoyed by one overrule and slips to 30-40, facing a break point for the first time. Kendrick then obliges by tamely putting a backhand wide. The American earns another chance and Murray double faults, and he will be annoyed to have lost the momentum.

Murray 0-1 Kendrick
Kendrick puts a backhand well wide on the first point and lets out a scream of anguish. He must be wondering whether it was worth coming through three rounds of qualifying. A missed volley does not help his mood but the American hangs on to his serve.

First set:

Murray 6-2 Kendrick
Murray opens with an ace and a winning serve as he moves to 40-15 and two break points. Kendrick then finds his best shot of the set - although there's not much competition for that prize - as he fires a forehand return winner, but Murray completes the job on the next point.

Murray 5-2 Kendrick
Murray produces another magical moment with a backhand pass from way out of court that draws gasps from the crowd. At set point Murray puts a forehand long but he will surely wrap it up soon enough.

Murray 5-1 Kendrick
Fair enough, the odd drop shot is OK. With a hint of danger at 15-30, Murray chooses to try another one from well behind the baseline and it leaves Kendrick stranded. It's a fantastic shot that not too many other players could pull off and helps him win the game.

Murray 4-1 Kendrick
Kendrick goes for a desperation serve-and-volley at 0-30 and promptly loses the point. The American is being outclassed at the moment and he gives up another break with a double fault that lands a foot wide.

Murray 3-1 Kendrick
A trademark Murray drop shot gifts Kendrick an easy put-away and that's a shot the Briton needs to use more sparingly, but otherwise he is looking good as he holds to 15.

Murray 2-1 Kendrick
Kendrick is not ready to change his gameplan yet and continues to belt the ball at every opportunity, quite often into the net or outside the lines. At 30-40 he is in trouble again but the American finds two big serves and a forehand winner. He's off the mark.

Murray 2-0 Kendrick
It's a great start from Murray, who is exuding confidence and energy - not always the case. He holds serve to 15 and Kendrick has still to break his duck against the teenager.

Murray 1-0 Kendrick
Murray, wearing a blue top and black shorts, wins three straight points to earn a chance to break. Kendrick, all in white with a back-to-front baseball cap, tries to use his power to outmuscle the Scot, but Murray gets the serve back and forces an error. Kendrick has now lost all 13 games he has played against Murray.

Build-up:

The US Open in Flushing Meadows represents another significant step forward in the career of British number one Andy Murray.

It is his first Grand Slam as a seeded player - he is number 17 - and his first working alongside new coach Brad Gilbert.

The American has also mentored former US Open champions Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick and brings exactly the sort of experience Murray was looking for.

Murray won the junior title in 2004 and reached the second round of the main draw in 2005, but will now be looking to go further.

He should have no fear for his first-round opponent, American qualifier Robert Kendrick.

The pair met for the first time in July and Murray blasted him off the grass court 6-0 6-0.