US Open: Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic with slight problems more

Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic has fought his way into the second round of the US Open. The Serb, who visibly suffered from the heat for a short time, won 6:3, 3:6, 6:4, 6:0 against the Hungarian Marton Fucsovics after 2:59 hours.

In New York on Tuesday afternoon it was 36 degrees at extreme humidity. Thanks to the heat rules, both players were allowed to pause for ten minutes after the third set.

“We obviously had both problems, only towards the end of the third set did I feel a little better,” said Djokovic: “Before that it was just a struggle for survival. I prayed I’d feel better soon.” The 31-year-old had been trailing by a break in the third round, but was still turning the match.

Djokovic is one of the top favourites for Flushing Meadows after winning his 13th Grand Slam title and triumph at the Masters in Cincinnati. He has been in the final seven times and won the tournament in 2011 and 2015. Last year Djokovic was absent from New York because of an elbow injury.