Andy Murray Stuck in Battle for Second Best After Kevin Anderson Loss

Andy Murray's loss to Kevin Anderson at the 2015 U.S. Open keeps the Scot in a familiar place, mired in a fight for No. 2. 

Anderson, No. 14, reached the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam for the first time in his career with a 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (0) win over Murray. It's a monumental achievement for Anderson and a missed opportunity for Murray.

It was his earliest exit at a Grand Slam in five years. The loss also broke a streak of 18 consecutive Slam appearances in which Murray reached the quarterfinals or better.

It's that consistency in Grand Slams that earned Murray a spot in the Big Four, despite lagging far behind Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in major titles. 

Before falling to Anderson, Murray had made it to the semifinals or better at every Grand Slam this year. However, he's been in a constant battle with Federer for No. 2. 

Two has been a difficult number for Murray. He's been stuck at two Grand Slam titles since winning Wimbledon two years ago, and he's yet to advance past his career-high ranking of No. 2.

Djokovic has clearly been the best player over the past two years. Although Murray's gotten close, he even claimed that he's second best.

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After Murray won Wimbledon in 2013, ending his nation's 77-year drought for men at the the All England Club, he was in a position to challenge Djokovic, Federer and Nadal for the No. 1 ranking. The previous year he had won the U.S. Open, reached the finals at Wimbledon and defeated Federer for the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. 

Yet he never quite got there, and you have to start wondering if he ever will.

Yes, he's as much in the mix as Federer and certainly playing better than Nadal. But Murray is 28 and can't seem to push past a 34-year-old Federer who has been to more Grand Slam finals since 2013 than Murray. 

Murray was runner-up at the Australian Open this year, falling to Djokovic. He reached the semifinals at the French Open and Wimbledon. 

A few weeks ago, Murray had a chance to overtake Federer at No. 2 with a win at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, but he lost to Federer in the semis. Federer went on to win the title and secure the No. 2 seed at the U.S. Open. 

Murray could have moved ahead of Federer at the U.S. Open but came up short again. This time, way shorter than expected. Still, as shocking as his loss seems, the way Murray has played, he is lucky to have gotten to the fourth round. 

His form has looked sketchy since his second-round struggle with No. 35 Adrian Mannarino. Murray fell behind two sets before storming through the last three. It took him three hours and 17 minutes.

After the match, Murray told reporters, via Michael Beattie of ESPN.com, that he was having a difficult time with the heat and his health. 

"In these conditions, obviously it can take its toll later on," he said. "But unfortunately you don't always have the luxury of winning matches in straight sets. Sometimes you have to fight through. Maybe if you're not playing your best, just find a way to get through."

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US Open - Andy Murray's run of matches finally runs out http://t.co/jrM66sTRgc

— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) September 8, 2015"

Murray looked fresher in the third round when he defeated Thomaz Bellucci, seeded No. 30, in straight sets. He appeared to be back on track and headed for a blockbuster quarterfinal against Stan Wawrinka. All he had to do was knock off a guy who had never reached a Slam quarterfinal. 

He couldn't do it. 

Instead, Murray leaves New York stuck at two. He still has just two Grand Slam titles, the same as Wawrinka, who has won two Slams since Murray won his last. In fact, if you throw out Wawrinka's first-round loss at the 2014 French Open, he's had as impressive a run at the majors as Murray over the past two years.

Federer's win over John Isner will keep Murray at No. 3 in the ATP World Tour rankings. Even if Wawrinka wins the U.S. Open, Murray's spot at No. 3 is secure, for now. Meanwhile, No. 1 is looking further out of reach.