Andy Murray out of US Open with lowest Grand Slam prize money for three years
Andy Murray missed out on a potential $3m (£1.9m) at the US Open after crashing out in the fourth round to 15th seed Kevin Anderson.
Read more: Andy Murray takes prize money past $40m at US Open
It means that for the first time since the US Open in 2010 Murray has failed to make the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam and exits this year's tournament with his lowest prize money from a major tournament since the 2012 French Open.
Murray leaves New York with $213,575 in prize money after the frustrating loss in Flushing Meadows which triggered angry outbursts and a smashed racquet that could lead to a fine being docked from his final pay packet.
Yet for a player who took his career earnings past the $40m mark at the tournament, the disappointment of ending a run of reaching the last eight at 18 consecutive Grand Slams naturally weighed more heavily on Murray's mind than his relatively small prize money.
The world No3 said after the loss: "That run is obviously something that is disappointing to lose. Many years of hard work have gone into building that sort of consistency and to lose that is tough."
Yet despite the defeat, Murray can take solace in the fact that 2015 has actually been one of the most successful – and most lucrative – years of his career. The Scot has made $5.8m on the court so far this year, his biggest haul in a single season to date.
Besides, the US Open has not traditionally been Murray's best Grand Slam earner – performances at Wimbledon have been the biggest contributor to his bank balance with just shy of $6m earned in prize money.
