Image source, EPA

Oh hello! Andy Murray is bringing the drop-shot to the party - delicately spinning a lob over the baseball-capped head of Adrian Mannarino. That brings him level at 15-15...but that's as good as it gets for the third seed. Mannarino does not take the drop-shot kindly, ramping up the aggression to rattle off three quick points for the hold.

* denotes next server

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport

It has been a scorching and dramatic afternoon already at Flushing Meadows, with British number two Jo Konta beating ninth seed and Wimbledon finalist Garbine Muguruza over an epic three hours and 23 minutes. Konta is almost certainly in an ice bath now ahead of her media duties. Colin Fleming has sneaked in a fine doubles win with Treat Huey of the Philippines, and now we have Murray on Ashe and British number two Aljaz Bedene on court 17. A stamina-sapping schedule for British followers in New York.

Warning! Andy Murray is starting to find his service game. Crash! The Briton, opting to wear a cooler white t-shirt today, smashes down his fourth ace of the match to move within a point of the game. Bang! Another rains down on the Frenchman, who is nowhere near the bomb down the T. Time for a quick breather and a much-needed intake of liquid...

Back over on Ashe - Murray has another break point. Mannarino forces the Briton well out wide on his left before Murray races back across the baseline. Almost unbelievably he manages to sticks his string on the ball, but cannot generate enough power to avoid the tape. Mannarino manoeuvres himself back into a winning position - three times during deuce in fact - eventually seeing Murray cave in when he slaps a backhand into the net from deep.

While Murray grinds through the gears on Ashe, there is some more good news for British fans from Court 17. Aljaz Bedene is fistpumping the stifling New York air - and that means he has taken the opening set against home player Donald Young.

Image source, Getty Images

Up in Murray's box, coach Jonas Bjorkman - decked out in the shades and looking a little sweaty - claps heartily as his man nudges himself ahead for the first time. It is baking hot in the Big Apple. Keep swigging the water Jonas...

Image source, Getty Images

Panic over. Murray wipes out that early Mannarino break. The Frenchman isn't shy of dishing out the challenges, arguing another call in the first point of the fourth game. Again the Flushing Meadows judge being questioned is spot on. Murray takes charge from then on, forcing his opponent into more forehand errors to level.

The Murray side of the Ashe scoreboard ticks into life. The third seed begins to find his rhythm, walloping Mannarino on to the back foot. On game point Mannarino goes long - or does he? Murray thinks so as he walks back to his seat. The Frenchman challenges - but it is no challenge. Half a yard out.

Right then Muzza, let's see if you can wipe out that deficit at the first attempt. A sweeping backhand down the line suggests so. Mannarino, with his arcing left-hander serve, reasserts himself before Murray has him scampering across the baseline, forcing him into errors. Break point Murray...goes begging. An ace takes us to deuce before Mannarino cleans up with a forehand winner.

Image source, Reuters

Hmmm. Not the start that Andy Murray dreamed about when he woke up this morning. A tentative second serve - clocking in at just 75mph - allows Mannarino to pounce and set up two break points. Murray hammers down an ace to wipe one out - but then, after a lengthy baseline rally, slams a backhand into the tape. Dream start for the Frenchman!

Andy Murray takes his seat for the final time before kicking off against Adrian Mannarino. Swig of water - check. Mopping of brow - check. Show time. Let's go Andy, let's go....

* Denotes next server

Adrian Mannarino might be ranked 32 places below Andy Murray - and lost their only previous encounter - but the British number one is taking nothing for granted against the Frenchman.

"He's a tricky player," said the Scot, who beat Mannarino 6-3 6-3 in Indian Wells earlier this year.

"He's a lefty. He hits the ball extremely flat off both sides and has very short, compact swings, excellent timing. He's quick, a good athlete with very good hands. He's a talented guy."

Has there been a fire alarm inside Arthur Ashe Stadium?! Hardly anyone is inside to see the third seed begin his second-round match. Imagine the queue at the hotdog stall is rammed...

Anyone out there going against the grain and backing Murray to lose? Go on, I dare you to admit it. 

Former British number one Greg Rusedski reckons Muzza, who has just emerged into the cavernous Arthur Ashe stadium, will be heading off court with an easy victory sooner rather later.

Agree? Got anything else (tennis-related) to get off your chest? This is the place to do it. Tweet using #bbctennis or text 81111.

Now just because Mannarino shares the same nationality as Murray's previous second-round Slam conqueror does not improve his chances of winning. That would be nonsense. But it would be an anomaly if another Frenchman could manage to send him packing from Flushing Meadows at this stage. I'm not holding my breath...

That hunch-shouldered, hot-tempered, 18-year-old has, of course, now matured into a cool, calm and collected two-time Grand Slam champion. Well - cool, calm and collected most of the time.

Image source, Getty Images

Defeat against the experienced Arnaud Clement on that warm afternoon in New York is the only time that Murray has been beaten in the second round of a Slam.

Where was Clement from? France. Where is today's opponent Adrian Mannarino from? France. Zut alors!

Ah, the back end of summer 2005. Arctic Monkeys continued to lead the British indie-rock revival with their catchy melodies and witty lyrics about everyday life in the industrial North. England were just a maiden Test century from Kevin Pietersen away from grabbing the Ashes for the first time in 18 years. And a stroppy teenager called Andy Murray lost in the second round of his US Open debut....

Image source, Getty Images