Novak Djokovic through as players feel the heat at US Open

NEW YORK – The heat is on at the US Open, but it is not so much that the big-name players are competing against each other – it is quite literally the atmosphere at Flushing Meadows.

Steamy conditions tested players’ resolve on Aug 28, as defending champion Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round, while the unaffected Aryna Sabalenka marked her win by taking photographs with a mini-version of herself.

In the middle of the afternoon, the searing heat reached around 35 deg C. The sweat-soaked 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic looked far from comfortable at the Arthur Ashe Stadium and had to battle from 2-4 down in the second set before seeing off fellow Serb Laslo Djere, who retired injured at 6-4, 6-4, 2-0.

“It’s not what we want. It’s not what the crowd wants, to see a walkover,” said Djokovic, who racked up his 90th win at the US Open and is also now the only man to have won 90 matches at all four Slams.

“But he obviously had an injury that took him out of the Tour for some time and he is struggling to come back physically. He’s such a good player, especially in these conditions. It should have been his second set.

“Overall, it was a big fight. Over two hours for two sets. I served awful. Playing without the serve, you have to grind, you have to run. So I guess I had to rely on my baseline game.”

The second seed will next meet Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, whom he defeated at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this season with both matches going to four sets.

Popyrin is in a rich vein of form, having won the prestigious Montreal Masters on the eve of the US Open.

“He’s getting closer and closer and knocking on the door,” added Djokovic of the world No. 28 who has made the last 32 in New York for a third time.

“We always knew he had the big serve but now he is more consistent, making fewer errors than he used to. He’s pumped and playing some good tennis.”

Earlier, fourth seed Alexander Zverev wasted little time in blazing conditions as he dispatched Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium.

“I’m happy to be through in three sets because I think the weather and conditions were obviously very difficult today. Very hot, very humid,” the German said.

“The less time I spend on the court, the better it is.”

His next opponent Tomas Martin Etcheverry vomited on court amid the stifling conditions during a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 win over Francisco Cerundolo, while other players wrapped themselves in ice towels and guzzled energy drinks.

“The temperature was 38 degrees and to that we have to add another four degrees inside the court,” said Etcheverry.

“You had to hydrate well, try to take as many salts and hydrates as possible and I overdid it, that’s why I ended up vomiting. It’s dangerous not only for the players, but also for the public.”

American star Frances Tiafoe, whose opponent Alexander Shevchenko retired in the third set of their clash, discarded five shirts in a sweaty pile next to his chair.

Russia’s Andrey Rublev, American teenager Iva Jovic and Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka all summoned doctors courtside.

Rublev, who needed five sets and more than four hours to defeat Arthur Rinderknech, told medical staff he had drank so much water that he felt he had a “baby” in his stomach.

However, 2023 finalist Sabalenka is no stranger to hot and humid conditions as a resident of Miami and the big-hitting Belarusian was barely troubled during her 6-3, 6-1 win over Italian Lucia Bronzetti.

She celebrated the win by taking pictures with a young fan outfitted in similar gear to the second seed and sporting a temporary tiger tattoo to match that on Sabalenka’s left forearm.

“I looked up and I saw on the big screen, like, mini-me. It was so cute,” she said. “It’s such a motivation to keep going, to inspire the young generation. That’s the main goal. That was an adorable moment.” REUTERS, AFP