Anderson holds nerve to send Murray crashing out of US Open

South Africa's Kevin Anderson celebrates his shock victory over Britain's Andy Murray ©Getty Images

Andy Murray lost before the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time in five years after a gruelling four-set battle with South Africa's Kevin Anderson at the US Open at Flushing Meadows.

Fifteenth-seeded Anderson is best known for his booming serve, but showed an impressive variety to his game as he dominated many of the longer rallies and did not allow the British number one to establish any kind of rhythm in the fourth round clash.

After taking the first-set on a tie break 7-5, he roared through the second 6-3 before Murray - who had resorted to throwing his racket in frustration - mustered some sort of fightback.

The Briton still proved unable to gain a decisive break, but after stepping-in and being more aggressive he won a third-set tie-break 7-2.

It proved a brief blip rather than a genuine change of momentum, however, as Anderson dominated another tie-break in the fourth, sweeping through 7-0 to win in four hours and 18 minutes.

“I just managed to keep my composure throughout and probably played one of the best matches of my life,” said the winner.

“He was right in it, such a fighter, such an amazing player.

"I obviously served very well, I couldn’t ask for a better [final tie] break.

"Beating someone like Andy feels so amazing, now I’m going to have to do it again.”

Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland will be the next opponent for Kevin Anderson ©Getty Images

Murray, who recovered from two sets down to beat Adrian Mannarino of France in the second round, has struggled with a cold over the last week, but after showing superb form throughout the hard-court season he will be disappointed to endure his worst Grand Slam performance since the 2010 US Open.

Anderson will now face Switzerland's Stanislav Wawrinka for a place in the semi-finals, with the French Open champion having beaten Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Five-time champion Roger Federer joined his compatriot in the quarter-finals after defeating another American, John Isner, becoming the first man to break the 13th seed's serve in the entire tournament with a 7-6, 7-6, 7-5 triumph.

He will now face Richard Gasquet of France, who beat Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.

There was more British disappointment in the women's draw today as giant-killer Johanna Konta was finally beaten, 7-5, 6-3 by fifth seed Petra Kvitova.

Second-seed Simona Halep of Romania, meanwhile, progressed with a 6-7, 7-5, 6-2 win over Germany's Sabine Lisicki.

Halep now has a quarter final with Belarus' Victoria Azarenka, who beat United States' Vara Lepchenko 6-3, 6-4,.

Kvitova will next be up against Italian 26th seed Flavia Pennetta, who won 6-4, 6-4 over Australia's 2011 champion Samantha Stosur.