0451: Great stuff from Murray, great stuff from you, and the really good news is we can do this all again in a couple of days' time. Better still, it's less than 12 hours until day eight kicks off, with Federer, Djokovic, Oudin and friends in action from 1600 BST. See you then.
0448: "Some truly wonderful shots there. Things are looking good at the moment."
From Alan via text 0448: "Hey Piers. I recall Murray running round at local tennis club when just a wee boy. Now he's all grown up and known the world over. I feel old!"
From Louise, Dunblane, via text Murray 6-3 6-2 6-2 Dent A routine finish to a routine, although highly enjoyable, match. Murray plays a winning backhand lob, via Hawkeye, to seal a place in the last 16 and a match against Marin Cilic. Taylor Dent has certainly provided his fair share of entertainment though and hopefully will remain fit enough to challenge again.
* denotes Next server * Murray 6-3 6-2 5-2 Dent There's a touch of the Don Quixote about Dent now as he continues to charge the net, only to see returns flash past him. Two in a row take Murray to 0-40 and
three break points... the Scot breaks a string on the first, Dent saves the second with a big serve, but Murray gets a kind net cord on the third and he will serve for match.
* denotes Next server Murray 6-3 6-2 4-2 Dent * The first serve goes missing for Murray and allows Dent to get to 30-30. Dent then chips and charges brilliantly, reaching for a forehand volley that gets him a
break point.... The noise from the crowd reminds me of the Beatlemania documentary I watched last night. Murray saves it with a huge serve, wallops a forehand pass down the line and takes the game with another service winner. Good stuff.
* denotes Next server * Murray 6-3 6-2 3-2 Dent Successive return winners draw gasps from the crowd and take Murray to 15-30. Dent then nets a regulation forehand and faces
two break points... and converts the first with another fantastic cross-court forehand. If anything, this match is allowing the world number two to really groove his returns.
* denotes Next server Murray 6-3 6-2 2-2 Dent * Murray holds to love yet again, giving Dent the old runaround. Bearing in mind his back problems it's bordering on the cruel.
* denotes Next server * Murray 6-3 6-2 1-2 Dent Lovely stuff, a bit of the old Bahrami-Leconte hi-jinx at the net goes Dent's way and gets the crowd going, and he takes the game to 15. If only there was a British bobby around, they could nick his hat.
* denotes Next server Murray 6-3 6-2 1-1 Dent * "I love you Andy!" screams one silly man in the crowd. Although I did laugh. Another love hold for Murray rounded off with an ace.
* denotes Next server * Murray 6-3 6-2 0-1 Dent Dent plays a solid service game to effectively keep his hopes alive and rouse the crowd for maybe one last hurrah, literally.
* denotes Next server Murray 6-3 6-2 Dent * Murray takes the set with a love game that is greeted by almost total silence as an ace flies down the 'T' so fast everyone assumes it must be out. It isn't.
* denotes Next server 0413: "My baby is due any day. This is good practice for sleepless nights to come. But no drama please Andy, don't want my waters to break on couch! C'mon Murray!"
From Anne, Stirlingshire, via text * Murray 6-3 5-2 Dent A superb Murray return earns him another
break point... and he takes it with a huge forehand. I mean, huge.
* denotes Next server Murray 6-3 4-2 Dent * Dent is keeping everyone entertained, he's really great to watch, but Murray is holding easily now and it's hard to see the American causing him too much trouble from here. Famous last words. Dent fires a forehand long and it's another love game for the Scot.
* denotes Next server * Murray 6-3 3-2 Dent Three young American chaps in baseball caps give it the old 'We're not worthy' shtick as Dent wins a ding-dong rally at the net and their man holds impressively. I went to a baseball game in Denver last year where some similar fellows insisted on high-fiving people every five minutes. They were not impressed when it came to my turn and I said, "I don't do that, I'm British." I had to run out of the place.
* denotes Next server Murray 6-3 3-1 Dent * Dom Jolly, now that is a good shout. Murray is in a spot of bother but finds three first serves to see off the danger and his crowded box of supporters looks happy.
* denotes Next server 0401: "Morning piers! Lovin your work. Just woke up and watching the match; think dom jolly's making a good fist of it. Really got himself in shape."
From anon via text 0401: "Go Andy! Working a night shift but totally absorbed in the tennis via the live text. Good job my boss is asleep in the corner!"
From MTH via text * Murray 6-3 2-1 Dent Phil Dent, good shout. In fairness I was only about seven. Son of Phil is battling away and there's really not much in this, but he nets a backhand to give Murray a chance at 30-30. The Scot belts a forehand pass that Dent manages, with the help of the net, to return as a killer drop shot. The American then makes an error for deuce and a fizzing Murray return gets him to
break point.... but Dent comes up with a spectacular forehand volley. It's a real battle between the volleyer and the passer now, old skool. A Murray pass earns him a
second break point... and he comes up with the shot of the day, a blistering backhand winner. Great stuff.
* denotes Next server 0354: "Just to correct you from earlier piers taylor dents father is called phil not steven, only a minor error, COME ON MURRAY!"
From anon via text Murray 6-3 1-1 Dent * Murray holds to 15, although not before misjudging a lob that drops on the line and then hooking the resulting forehand about six feet out. Two big serves give him the game.
* denotes Next server * Murray 6-3 0-1 Dent Murray gets to 0-30 but then castigates himself for a poor attempted pass. He makes amends immediately with a fabulous backhand for 15-40 and
two break points... Dent saves the first with a brilliant volley and Murray misses a pass on the second. An Ace takes Dent to game point and he seals it with a wrong-footing volley that sends Murray tumbling, but he seems OK. Looked a bit comical actually.
* denotes Next server Murray 6-3 Dent * Stuck with me? The cheek. Dent misses a great chance on the opening point before Murray flips a delicate angled forehand past the American for 30-0. Two points later and he absolutely hammers a forehand winner for
set point... Murray goes long with a groundstroke on the first but Dent puts an approach long on the second. Looking good so far...
* denotes Next server GCChristie via Twitter: "Its 10.30am out here in Taiwan. I'm at work so I'm stuck with you, come on Murray, make it a great weekend for Scotland."
* Murray 5-3 Dent That's more like it from a pumped-up Murray, who starts making dipping returns to the feet of Dent. The American nets twice in a row and Murray has the break.
* denotes Next server Murray 4-3 Dent * Murray has a go at serve-volleying and ends up looking a bit silly as he pirouettes while putting the volley long. Back to basics and a big ace gives him the game.
* denotes Next server 0334: "I love that Dent is a serve and volleyer and sticks to it. N o doubt that his volley will make or break his chances!"
From Patrick via text * Murray 3-3 Dent Dent smashes away a towering lob, then rifles an angled backhand winner and takes the game with a forehand volley. He's currently playing like a supercharged tennis star of the 1980s. It's rather good.
* denotes Next server Murray 3-2 Dent * Exciting news - Nick Faldo is in the crowd. That just about merits a celebrity graphic. Murray gets back on track with a comfortable hold as Dent makes a couple of loose errors from the baseline. I'm old enough to have very vague memories of Taylor's dad Steve playing in the early 1980s. Terrific moustache, if I remember correctly.
* denotes Next server * Murray 2-2 Dent Dent has Murray scampering unsuccessfully after a lob and then gets a net cord with a volley before Murray stops the rot by dominating a punishing rally from the baseline. The American takes the game with some valiant stuff at the net and there's no doubt who the crowd are rooting for.
* denotes Next server Murray 2-1 Dent * Dent does a good job of cutting off an attempted pass from Murray at the net for 15-30 and then earns a break point at 30-40 with a sweet drop volley. The crowd goes bonkers. Murray goes for a very optimistic running cross-court pass and misses, handing the break straight back. Who'd have thought it?
* denotes Next server * Murray 2-0 Dent Things look pretty ropey for Dent as Murray breaks to love, making all his returns and seeing the edgy American steer two volleys into the tramlines.
* denotes Next server 0315: "I have pain shooting through my head, my right ear and my back teeth. I can't sleep with this much agony so I'm going nowhere. C'mon Murray! Help dull the pain."
From Chewie in Brighton via text 0315: "I'm on night shift until 8am,have rushed around finishing jobs+am settling down to view live text from your good self because I can't watch tv!!"
From Karen via text Murray 1-0 Dent * Dent has a few swings on return but Murray looks very comfortable as he holds to love. My prediction, and not just because of that game, is Murray in straight sets. Possibly quicker than Pennetta.
* denotes Next server 0312: OK, here we go. Murray to serve...
0310: As the players knock up, UK tennis fans consider their eating options. To clear something up, the rice cakes are 'savoury'. This appears to mean 'lightly marmited'.
pwalker32 via Twitter: "Is it late enough that I can now consider another meal to get through Murray's visit to the Dent'ist'?"
0307: Flushing Meadows favourite
Where The Streets Have No Name echoes around the arena (have they got a
Best of out or something?) as the players walk onto court, with a big cheer for Dent obviously.
0303: Whoops, a quick manual refresh and we'll pretend that never happened. The crowd appears to be settled after the Pennetta-Zvonareva drama and recovered from the Russian's colourful language.
Marin Cilic has beaten Denis Istomin 6-1 6-4 6-3 and lies in wait for Murray or Dent.
0257: Dent is this year's fairytale of New York, as he's back on court after two bouts of back surgery in 2006 and 2007. As a fellow back-pain sufferer I have both admiration and respect for Dent, but not enough to stop me hoping he gets a three-set doing over from Murray. We've been waiting since 1936, it's getting a bit tiresome now.
0256: You can
text on 81111 or get in touch via
Twitter if you feel like sharing your thoughts on Murray, Dent, rice cakes etc. I have five left.
0255: "I have beer and I have Monday and Tuesday off. There is no chance I'm going to bed."
From Alan via text on 81111 0252: So here we go,
Andy Murray v Taylor Dent for a place in the last 16 of the US Open. The basics - they've met twice before, with the Scot winning both but way back in 2005. Murray is 22, Dent is 28; Murray is ranked second, Dent 195th; Murray has won 13 career titles, Dent has won four.
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