A display of floating tennis balls...

Image source, EPA

Has anyone seen any gravity-defying tennis balls? Anyone? As if the players didn't bamboozle us enough on the court, there seem to be tennis balls at Flushing Meadows which can float without any assistance. It's true. It could be art. It could be magic. It could be both.

Back on the court, Murray has been reined in from 40-15 to deuce and the Scot's shoulders slump a little lower with every point conceded. The two-time Grand Slam champion saves break point - and comes through an iffy service game as Haase plonks a backhand into the tape.

Second seed Simona Halep is through after fighting back to defeat Danielle Rose Collins of the US, 6-7 (2-7) 6-1 6-2

Image source, Reuters

And sixth seed Angelique Kerber of Germany also advances after beating Ksenia Pervak of Russia 6-2 3-6 7-5.

Nick Bollettieri
American tennis coach on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Andy Murray is not playing like Andy Murray. That was a five out of 10 set."

Haase closes the gap. From 4-2 to 5-4 and questions are being asked of a wincing Murray. But Haase goes long to present the Scot with two set points - but Murray is hauled in once more and the Scot embarks on a monologue. A swing of the hips from Haase, a forehand down the line and the Dutchman roars - it's 6-6, Murray slaps his racquet on the hard court and the boisterous crowd sing "let's go, Robin".

A hush as Haase prepares to serve for the set... The Dutchman grunts and groans... Murray gambles like a high-roller and the reward is big - HawkEye shows the Scot kissed the line for set point. What has Haase got left? The crowd want more but he goes long on the forehand and Murray goes two sets up.

Nick Bollettieri
American tennis coach on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Image source, Getty Images

"The big server is negated a little bit in the tie-breaker."

Robin Haase has won just two of the 14 tie-breaks he has played this year.

Bravo! Some wizardry from Murray as he beats Haase with a razzle-dazzle of a forehand. A celebratory fist-pump to boot as he levels at 1-1. Perhaps Murray's brilliance has intimidated his opponent because Haase timidly nets for 3-1 and is then undone by another jaw-droppingly good Murray winner. Murray leading 4-1, though Haase bites back and it's 4-2 at the changeover.

At 30-15 Murray is cruising on a street named easy and Haase isn't able to sow any seeds of doubt - slashing wide on the return for 40-15 and mucking up a volley to end the contest. Tie-break? You got it.

Gigi Salmon
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

"That was a near-perfect service game from the Dutchman. You don't get too much emotion from Robin Haase, he's a placid fellow."

Pressure? Nah, not for Haase. A blemish-free hold for the underdog, who has performed admirably after an iffy start to the first set. If Murray is to win this match in straight sets he must at least take this one into a tie-break.

One hour and 19 minutes into the match and Murray serving to stay in the set. The former US Open champion is passed on his forehand as Haase levels at 30-30. An ace settles the nerves and Haase screws a forehand wide to gift Murray a point and the game. Tables turn. Some old-fashioned Grand-Slam pressure heaped onto Hasse's shoulders.

Stanislas Wawrinka:, external On my way to the @usopen !Playing 3rd match today!

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American number 7 Bradley Klahn on Twitter:, external It's like Christmas morning, but 10x better. Gameday baby!!!

Klahn takes on Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov later today.

Excitable whoops from spectators on Louis Armstrong as Haase gets the better of Murray with a delicious drop shot. The Dutchman cruising at 30-0, but Murray makes life uncomfortable by sprinting to the net like a panther to nick a point.

At 40-15, Murray, with nothing to lose, works Haase from side to side and is rewarded as Haase lazily goes long. Errors creeping into Haase's game... blips on the forehand. Murray with a break point... But a sweetly-struck crosscourt forehand gets Haase out of danger and he wriggles free, and to within a game of the set.

Murray's shoelaces become untied between the first and second serve and the loss in concentration results in a double fault for 15-15. Murray misfiring - a second double fault - and Haase has a sniff at 15-30.

"Come on, Andy," shouts a New Yorker. and the Scot listens, aiming a backhand volley at Haase's feet and the Dutchman is made to look as if he has cement in his trainers.

Haase, though, forces the game to deuce but a series of errors lets Murray off the hook and we're even stevens.

Nick Bollettieri
American tennis coach on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"This match is very important for Andy. The serve is key for him to come through this. He's just not the same Andy out here as he was when he was in top form."

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Murray is not only a confident man these days but a relaxed one, too. On Friday, he took a break from training to watch Rory McIlroy play golf in New Jersey and later joined the world number one golfer to watch basketball at Madison Square Garden. Front row, of course, and a fist-pump with film director Spike Lee.

There's been drama in this first-round match, perhaps not enough for Spike Lee to pay for the script rights but enough for intrigue. Haase holds firm, securing the game with an ace.

Haase undercooks a backhand drop shot and that tame shot gives Murray a 40-0 lead. The Dutchman is wild and wide from the baseline - is he losing his cool at a critical moment?

Nick Bollettieri
American tennis coach on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"What did I say - move Haase side to side. His movement is not equal to Andy Murray's. That's the way to play against him."

Incredible returning from Murray, and he follows that up by scooting to the net and putting his opponent under pressure. Haase falters and the Scot nudges to a 15-30 lead - but the Dutchman overhauls the deficit only to be dragged back to deuce.

An overhead volley from Murray. Break point. Cheers from the crowd. A baseline battle ensues... Murray groaning, attempting to knockout his opponent from the back of the court - but all he must do is wait... wait... wait... and patience is the winner it as Haase goes long.

Image source, Reuters

Nick Bollettieri
American tennis coach on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Murray's a great competitor but Haase isn't going to lie down. When you stand as far behind the baseline as Murray is, you give the opponent time to run around their shot, and Haase is trying to get into that big forehand as often as he can. Murray needs to move Haase around. He's not controlling the match at all - if he continues staying back, this could be a long afternoon."