Too hot for comfort

Steamy conditions tested players' resolve at the US Open yesterday but defending champions Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff as well as Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the third round in New York.

Sweat-soaked 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic looked far from comfortable under the lights at 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," Djokovic said. "But he obviously had an injury that took him out of the tour for some time and he is struggling to come back physically to this level. He's such a good player.

"It was a big fight. Over two hours for two sets. I served awful ... you have to grind, you have to run."

German fourth seed Alexander Zverev wasted little time in blazing conditions earlier in the day as he dispatched Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 on Louis Armstrong Stadium. "I'm happy to be through in three sets because the weather and conditions were obviously very difficult," Zverev said. "The less time I spend on the court, the better it is."

American Madison Keys was equally relieved to cruise past Australian qualifier Maya Joint 6-4, 6-0. "I just wanted to get on and get off," Keys said after her 62-minute match.

Tomas Martin Etcheverry vomited on court amid during his five-set win over Francisco Cerundolo, while players on the other courts wrapped themselves in ice towels and guzzled energy drinks during changeovers.

Gauff was in roaring form as the American beat unseeded German Tatjana Maria 6-4, 6-0 while last year's beaten finalist Sabalenka romped to a 6-3, 6-1 win over Italian Lucia Bronzetti.

China's Zheng Qinwen of China was given an early headache by Russian 20-year-old Erika Andreeva before the Olympic champion prevailed 6-7 (3/7), 6-1, 6-2 after a 10-minute heat break midway.

REUTERS