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Briton Jamie Murray and American Liezel Huber were beaten 7-6 6-4 in the final of the mixed doubles at the US Open by fifth seeds Cara Black and Leander Paes.

Murray had been hoping to add a second Grand Slam mixed doubles title to the Wimbledon one he won in 2007 while paired with Serb Jelena Jankovic.

But having squandered two set points in the first set tiebreaker, Murray and Huber never looked recovering and conceded their serve in the fifth game of the second set, after a poor service game from the Scot that included two double faults.

"It wasn't a tough loss, they were just the better team," Huber said. "They have so much experience and have won so many titles, so it was an honour to play them."

Paes, who has now won eight Grand Slam doubles titles, signalled his intent to target Murray in the opening point of the game as he fired a smash at the Scot, hitting him on the back.

The only break points of the first set fell to Black, Huber's regular women's doubles partner, and Paes in the eighth game. But Murray demonstrated quick hands at the net, before Huber fired down a service winner to get them out of trouble.

A first tiebreak quickly followed with Murray and Huber racing out to a 4-2 lead at the change of ends before a smash to the feet of Paes earned the unseeded pair two set points.

But both chances went begging with Black placing a forehand volley between Murray and Huber before the Scot dumped a volley into the net.

The fifth seeds stole the first set at their first attempt when Paes buried a forehand volley into acres of space on the opposite side of the court.

Murray and Huber held break points in just the second game of the second set but failed to take advantage once again when Paes fired down a couple of huge serves.

From that moment on, the fifth seeds rarely looked troubled, not only breaking in the fifth game but also holding break points in the third and seventh games.

Black and Paes, who could both still add to this title with the women's and men's doubles titles respectively, wrapped up victory at the first attempt when Huber hit a forehand return of serve into the net.

Pippa Davis / Eurosport