(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

In the biggest upset of the U.S. Open, No. 17 Marin Cilic from Croatia stunned No. 2 seed Andy Murray in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2, in a little over two hours.

No tennis experts had predicted this outcome, not even remotely.

Murray was lauded as one of the title contenders; in fact, second after No. 1 Roger Federer.

This loss ended Murray and Britain's hope to see a Grand Slam title in 2009.

Murray's world wide fans were shell-shocked at the outcome of the match, and they are mourning over this loss. Their hopes of seeing Murray at the top of the rankings have been shattered, at least for this year. Dark clouds and utter blankness have been passing through their minds. I offer my commiseration to Murray fans.

Having previously defeated him on all three surfaces, Murray appeared to have taken Cilic for granted.

Some of the obvious questions that come to my mind are, "Did Murray come to the court without a game plan, only to be butchered by the aggressionof the up-and-comer, Cilic? If Murray had a game plan, how did he fail to execute it? OK, Game Plan A did not have an answer to Cilic's ultra-aggressiveness at its best form; did Murray have a Game Plan B? Was he suffering from any ailment? Did he have any other excuses?"

"I have had a problem with the wrist for a week or so but regardless I played poorly," Murray said.

Is that the sole reason Murray lost? Or, is it Murray's defensive style to be blamed for the loss? Or, perhaps it is Cilic's lights out play?

Let me continue with the match.

Right from the beginning, the Scot quickly resorted to his characteristic defensive style of play that allowed Cilic to go for all-out offensive, which bore fruit for the Croat.

Murray's service was lacking its usual effectiveness, and his return of service was far below par (for him) throughout the match. 

The Scot appeared to be holding just fine until five-all in the first set. Had he been able to capitalize on one of the four break opportunities in the first set, the match would probably have been played on different terms. In the 10th game alone, Murray squandered two set points.

Once Cilic won the first set, he raised his game to another level, going fearlessly for winners every time. In that momentum swing, the Croat won six consecutive games to lead 4-0 in the second set, breaking Murray twice. 

"Saving the two set points was the turning point,'' Cilic said. "That was relief for me and helped me get more into the game and I played really well, and played well tactically."

The crowd in the Arthur Ashe disappointingly stayed mute except an occasional "Come on, Andy," hoping for Murray's comeback but to no avail.

Murray did not have an answer to the Croat's big serve. Although on the scoreboard, Cilic had only 52 percent first serves in play to Murray's 65 percent, Cilic aced Murray twice as many times (10-5) and won 79 percent of the points on his first serve to Murray's 65 percent. 

"I returned poorly and he served well, and, you know, that was really the difference," Murray said. 

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