Novak Djokovic, suffering again as the heatwave returned to New York with a vengeance, had to red-line his way though an edgy 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 win over the gifted João Sousa to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open for the 11th time.
“Very happy to get this one done in three sets,” Djokovic said as headed for the locker room. “It was much more difficult than the score indicated. Tough conditions, especially for the first hour or so. I’m just trying to cherish the moment. I’m not 21 any more. Some times you just have to survive.”
It was going to script until the latter stages of the second set when the fatigue that almost cut him down in his tough first-round win in four sets over Marton Fucsovics returned.
A mental meltdown then struck after a long protest over a point when 2-1 up in the third set (possibly buying time as his energy leaked away). Sousa did not look impressed when the British chair umpire James Keothavong announced Djokovic was receiving a medical evaluation, but he was back on court within minutes.
The heat was getting to the lean Serbian but his heart was still ticking. However, his robust game has not had the look of old, when he would chase down every ball and grind his opponents into the ground. Yet he looked totally revived when he ramped up his backhand to 80 miles an hour to break for 5-3, then served out the match to 15.
Madison Keys had an easier time of it earlier and remains on track to return to the final Saturday of the US Open after a much improved performance on Monday, sweeping aside Dominika Cibulkova in an hour and a quarter to move into the quarter-finals.
The American, playing above her world ranking of No 14, was too good for the Slovakian for all but moments of the second set in winning 6-1, 6-3.
