Andy Murray tumbled out of the US Open on Monday night and was one racquet down after losing his temper during the fourth-round defeat to Kevin Anderson.

The Scot let out a string of expletives during the break between the second and third sets, seemingly frustrated by the time Anderson was taking in a break off the court.

Then after dropping serve in the third set, he smashed a racquet on the court, breaking it beyond repair and handing it to a spectator as an unexpected souvenir.

“In the second set I felt like I was starting to put pressure on him there,” Murray said. “When I had the break point at 5-3, I had a backhand pass that I really should have made. When you’re playing against players that are at that level, like him, you need to obviously make them think and then give them a chance to get nervous.

“The beginning of the fourth set, as well, I think it was his first service game, I had 15-all, hit a drop shot, mid-court forehand, then ended up winning the next couple of points.

“I felt like I had my opportunities there but didn’t manage to capitalise on them. When you’re playing against someone as good as him, you know, it’s tough.”

Big-serving South African Anderson played the match of his life to win 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 6-7 (2/7) 7-6 (7/0).

In the women’s singles, Britain’s Johanna Konta (pictured) went out in the fourth round to Petra Kvitova.

Konta said that despite the defeat, the tournament had been a “childhood dream come true.”

Ranked 97th in the world, she defied all expectations to reach the fourth round at Flushing Meadows but Kvitova proved a step too far as the Czech sealed a 7-5 6-3 victory.

It is the first time Konta has gone past the second round at a grand slam and wins against ninth seed Garbine Muguruza and 18th seed Andrea Petkovic will see her climb into the world’s top 60 at the end of the tournament.

The 24-year-old was certainly not outclassed either under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium as Kvitova had to survive five break points in the first set en route to a hard-fought win.