Live Commentary: Andy Murray vs. Florian Mayer - as it happened

Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the US Open third round clash between Andy Murray and Florian Mayer.

Just when you thought Murray had done with Mayer's in this tournament, up pops another one. There isn't any relation though. This Mayer is an experienced player from Germany, and he comes into this match in decent form.

Murray didn't look overly impressive during his second round encounter with Leonardo Mayer, but it's a match that will hopefully do him some good. He hasn't successfully fought himself through a match since Wimbledon, and if he gets through today, he is sure to have to fight in the later rounds.

The two players have just made their way onto the Arthur Ashe Stadium court, so that should mean that we will be starting at around 6.50pm.

So then, what do we know about Florian Mayer? The 29-year-old German is ranked number 47 in the world rankings and he has recorded two impressive victories over Juan Monaco and Donald Young. A couple of months ago, Mayer lost to Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the opening round at Wimbledon.

Both Murray and Mayer have completed their warm-up. It will be Mayer to serve first.

The two players share a superb opening exchange, which Mayer wins, but Murray replies with a forehand winner. A smash takes the German to 30-15, but a net cord helps Murray back to 30-30. Murray has control of the next point but the umpire wrongly steps in and overrules a call. Murray isn't impressed, but he wins the re-played point to earn a break point, but he frames a forehand high into the stands. The umpire correctly overrules on the deuce point, but wrongly penalises Mayer. Murray wastes another break point and the German comes through what was a crazy first game.

A sharp return sees Mayer move to 0-15, but he goes wide with an attempted forehand winner. The next two points are shared, but Murray ends the game strongly and levels things up at 1-1.

That was a much more convincing game from Mayer, who blasts himself to 40-0 before a fine volley at the net seals the game.

Murray replies with a confident service hold of his own. A couple of errors from Mayer help him along the way, and the German does fire a backhand winner to get back to 40-15, but the Scot makes it 2-2 after 18 minutes of play.

Murray forces Mayer to volley into the net for 0-15, but the world number 47 hits back with three excellent points to move to within one of the game. He has Murray on the run during the next rally, who nets to ensure that the set remains on serve.

The number three seed gets his ace count up-and-running, before Mayer steps into a weak second serve to level the game. Murray edges the next exchange with a forehand into the open court, before his second ace of the game takes him to 40-15. The Scot makes an error on the next point, but he makes it 3-3 when Mayer slices the ball into the net.

Murray has struggled to get into Mayer's last two service games, and he doesn't help his cause with two unforced errors. A double fault from his opponent gives him a sniff but two more mistakes gifts the German the game.

Murray is having a few issues with his back. I will keep you posted. His first serve finds the mark, but a double fault cancels it out. You get the feeling that Mayer senses Murray isn't at 100%, but an unforced error and coming into the net at the wrong time contribute to him falling 40-15 down. The reigning US Open champion slips up with a drop-shot, but a forehand error from Mayer concedes the game.

Errors are exchanged on the first two points, before an excellent cross-court backhand earns Mayer the advantage. A strong first serve takes him to within a point of the game, and despite netting a shot from the baseline, Mayer steps in on the next point to force Murray to serve to remain in the set.

A backhand pass gets the game off to the perfect start for Murray, but despite successfully an out call, he goes long with a forehand. However, he reestablishes control with a forehand winner and an ace, before Mayer goes long on a return.

Mayer opens up a 30-15 advantage, before executing a terrific backhand volley on the stretch. Murray hasn't impressed in this first set, and that continues when his attempted top-spin forehand drops into the bottom of the net.

A big game coming up for Murray. He needs to generate some momentum, and after edging 30-0 ahead, he slices the ball down the line with tremendous accuracy. The game moves into a tie-break after Mayer nets.

A lengthy first rally sees Mayer slice the ball wide of the line, and Murray takes the initiative with his third ace. Mayer looks like he has control of the next point, but he fires another shot wide and Murray is 3-0 ahead. The German is crumbling, but after floating a forehand long, Murray goes for too much on a return. The players reach the change of ends at 5-1 after a well-placed serve isn't returned by Mayer.

Where has this play been for the past 50 minutes? Murray drills a forehand winner into the corner for five set points, but Mayer hits back with a passing shot. However, he can do nothing when Murray latches onto a short serve to seal the first set.

Murray needs to up his intensity now. He has been far from his best, but he is a set to the good. He lets Mayer in at 15-15, but three strong points help him to the first game of the second set.

BREAK! A quick service stat for you. Murray is only finding the service box 46% of the time, which needs to improve. Mayer takes the first point, but Murray thunders two returns back at the German and he has 15-30. He replicates it for a third time, and the Scot has two break points. Murray sends a lob long on the first, but he secures the break when Mayer sends a backhand into the net.

An immaculate top-spin forehand wrong-foots Mayer to move 15-0 ahead before a smash doubles his lead. However, a poor drop-shot, an over-hit lob and a double fault gifts Mayer a break point, but it is saved with authority with a huge serve out wide. The power-hitting in Murray's game has returned in the past 15 minutes, and it sees him move 3-0 ahead in the second set.

Murray misses an opportunity to convert a smash at the start of the game, and that only encourages Mayer, who blasts his way through the remainder of the game in no more than 30 seconds.

Murray replies with a ferocious display of power. Two bludgeoning forehands take him to 40-0, before an ace regains his three-game advantage.

Murray is letting loose with his groundstrokes now, but on this occasion, it doesn't pay off and he quickly falls 40-0 behind. However, two solid returns force Mayer into mistakes, but the German holds firm with a cross-court backhand.

Mayer gets himself into a couple of rallies, but Murray comes out on top on both occasions, firing a winner into the corner. He then finds the baseline with a backhand, but after toying with Mayer, he sends a backhand lob marginally wide. Mayer takes the next point, but another massive serve out wide takes Murray to within a game of the second set.

BREAK AND SET! Murray wants this set done and dusted, and he goes on the attack to move to 0-30, but Mayer strikes back with a big first serve for 30-30. However, the Scot blazes a return winner past the German and he has set point, which he converts when Mayer can't handle a barrage of groundstrokes from inside the court.

The third starts with a flashy exchange that Murray wins with his trademark cross-court forehand. Mayer makes it 15-15, but a second serve has too much spin on it for the German. The 26-year-old is moving through the gears now, caressing a forehand winner on the run past Mayer before a one-two off his first serves takes the game. Marvelous stuff.

That's a much improved game from the world number 47, He coasts into a 40-0 lead, and despite Murray displaying more brilliance off a return, Mayer hammers down a serve for the game.

The two players begin the game with undoubtedly the point of the match. The rally must have exceeded 20 shots, before Murray whipped a forehand winner past Mayer. The next two points are shared before the Scot sends down his fifth ace, following it up with a backhand winner.

BREAK! Murray's beginning to create his own highlight reel. He loses the opening point, but he takes the next after chasing down a lob and firing a forehand winner on the turn. The game reaches 30-30, before Murray thunders down two more baseline winners to break the German's serve, and perhaps his spirit in the process.

A routine service hold from Murray. He isn't giving Mayer a sniff now, and he is close to sealing his place in the fourth round.

Mayer eases into a 30-0 lead, but Murray shows no sign of giving the game away, firing a backhand down the line that Mayer can only send wide. The world number 47 then goes long, and Murray has break point. Mayer saves it though, and manages to grind himself to a vital service hold.

Murray takes the first two points, but Mayer keeps him honest by fighting back to 30-30. The 26-year-old needs to keep his concentration, but a soft second serve is taken advantage of and Mayer crushes a forehand winner. Break point for the German, but he can't take it after a well-placed serve from Murray. It turns out to be a missed opportunity for Mayer as Murray regains his rhythm to move one away from the next round.

BREAK AND MATCH! The US Open champion takes advantage of a net-cord to take the first point before playing an utter genius of a shot. The Scot chased down a drop-shot before dinking a reply cross-court to the other side of the court without looking. Incredible. Murray has two match points, and he wastes no time in booking his place in the last 16, with Mayer driving a shot into the net.

The first set was far from straightforward, but the two that followed were his best of the tournament so far. He simply outclassed the German, who after a solid display for the first hour, wilted under the barrage of Murray's power.

Murray will face Andreas Seppi or Denis Istomin in the next round.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thanks for joining us. Goodbye for now.