US Open: Djokovic Overcomes Heat To Progress

US Open
Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic recovered to beat Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in the US Open first round at Flushing Meadows after struggling in the New York humidity.

Djokovic, aiming for a 14th Grand Slam title, won 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-0.

The Serb, 31, was unsteady on his feet and asked for a sick bucket to be put next to his chair in the second set.

Fucsovics then faded and Djokovic won the last 10 games, with the players taking a 10-minute heat break between the third and fourth sets.

It was the first time US Open organisers implemented an extreme heat policy in men’s matches.

“I was praying that I got to feel better because I wasn’t feeling great for most of the first three sets,” said sixth seed Djokovic.

“I want to thank the US Open for allowing us to have a 10-minute break after the third set. We both needed it.”

Wimbledon champion Djokovic, who won the men’s title at Flushing Meadows in 2011 and 2015, will meet American Tennys Sandgren in the second round.

Roger Federer, who plays Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in Tuesday’s night session, is a possible quarter-final opponent for Djokovic.

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