Andy Murray launches f-bomb tirade and smashes his racket during US Open defeat - before giving it to a fan

World No 3 lost his temper on more than one occasion during his surprise US Open fourth round defeat to Kevin Anderson

Andy Murray gestures during his US Open defeat to Kevin Anderson (Getty Images)

Andy Murray's shock defeat at the US Open unsurprisingly saw the British No 1 lose his cool more than once on the Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The 28-year-old suffered a surprise 7-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 defeat to South African Kevin Anderson to crash out of a Grand Slam tournament before the quarter-final stage for the first time in five years.

In what appeared to be a flashback to his early days as an angry young contender – not the calm and calculated Grand Slam winner we see more often than not – Murray twice lost his temper and lashed out in frustration when things weren’t going his way.

At the end of the second set, Murray unleashed a tirade of swear words aimed at no one in particular as he sat on his chair, sipping occasionally from a water bottle. Having initially looked like he had composed himself, the F-bombs quickly restarted with Murray clearly irked by something.

This was Andy Murray last night in between sets. Go @kevinanderson18 !!!!! pic.twitter.com/3ACujt5ovK

; Sitdown Comedian (@BouwerBosch) September 8, 2015

The Scot would go on to move ahead in the third set, only for Anderson to break back and level the scores. When a rare break point offered itself for the British No 1, Murray could only put his forehand effort wide, prompting the two-time Grand Slam winner to smash his racket on the court in anger.

(Forward to 10:48 to see Murray smash his racket)

Having been given a code violation for his efforts, Murray soon calmed himself enough to see the lighter side of it, and gave the racket to one of his fans sitting at courtside.