Survive and advance: Djokovic gets the job done at scorching-hot U.S. Open

It was a hot one at the U.S. Open on Tuesday. Too hot to handle, quite literally.

There were six retirements on the men’s side and there were almost a few more. Although Novak Djokovic did exactly come close to throwing in the towel during his mid-afternoon match, he also did not exactly sail through his opener. The former world No. 1 endured his own struggles amidst the 95-degree temperatures, as did opponent Marton Fucsovics. But Djokovic recovered from a mid-match lapse, battling back from a break down in the third set with things all tied at one apiece before getting the job done 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.

“It was a tough one,” the reigning Wimbledon champion assured. “We both struggled. We were not the only ones today…. Brutal conditions. But it is what it is. You have to kind of deal with it. I had to find a way to dig myself out of the trouble. It was a set all and I was break down. I think that was a turning point–4-3 in the third when he was serving, I managed to play a good game. I saw that he’s starting to slow down a bit. He started to experience some physical issues. That’s where I felt, ‘Well, this is the time to use this kind of opportunity and try and get back in the match.’

“I [never thought] I would not finish it,” he added. “I was obviously hoping and praying that I’ll get to feel better as the match progresses. Obviously I felt better, especially after that 10-minute break (after the third set). For the first three sets it was a survival mode for both of us.”

Roger Federer, on the other hand, had no such problems. After all, he was playing in friendlier conditions at night and his match was not at all competitive. The 37-year-old Swiss eased past Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 52 minutes.

Federer fired 56 winners, including 14 aces.

“Thankfully I wasn’t too nervous tonight,” the five-time U.S. Open champion noted. “I felt good. I felt like I had a good preparation week. No hiccups there. I think that settles my nerves.

When you do walk out onto Arthur Ashe, you feel like people are there to see the show, enjoy themselves. Sure, they come for the tennis, but it’s also sort of a bucket list, wanting to be there. So, yeah, there’s pressure. But, no, (it) never gets old. I love coming to play here. It’s been so many years now. So it’s great to have played also a good first round against an entertaining first-round opponent. I’m very pleased to be back in New York, of course.”

Federer will continue his campaign on Thursday against familiar foe Benoit Paire, while Djokovic will run into Tennys Sandgren.

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