Emotional Murray dumped from US Open

British tennis third seed Andy Murray has suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in five years, at Flushing Meadows in the US.

Andy Murray gets emotional during his fourth-round loss to Kevin Anderson in New York AFP/AFP

The two-time grand slam winner was bundled out of the US Open fourth round by South African 15th seed Kevin Anderson, 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-0).

Murray cursed himself repeatedly during the match and later broke his racket, as his strong-serving opponent opened up a two-set deficit.

Anderson unleashed no less than 25 aces to go with his total of 81 winners. When the South African left the court for a six-minute toilet break, Murray's temper got the better of him and he swore at the umpire, daring him to issue a fine.

The loss marks the first time since the 2010 that Murray has lost at a major before the quarter-finals.

Speaking to reporters after the match, he said losing that consistency is what hurt the most.

The Murray scalp is a big achievement for Anderson, who's now reached quarter-finals at a Grand Slam for the first time in his career. He'll face Swiss fifth seed Stan Wawrinka.

Elsewhere in the draw, Swiss second seed Roger Federer saw off 13th seed American John Isner in straight sets.

Over in the women's game, Aussie hope Sam Stosur was defeated for the seventh consecutive time by Italian Flavia Pennetta, 6-4 6-4.

That makes it three years since Stosur has advanced to the last eight of a Grand Slam.

Meanwhile Romanian second seed Simona Halep and twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova also reached their first US Open quarters.