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The heat is on: Djokovic turns to ‘survival mode’ to win at steamy US Open

New York • His cheeks red, hair matted with sweat, Novak Djokovic appeared to be in such distress as he trudged to a changeover on a steamy U.S. Open afternoon that someone suggested it would be a good idea to have a trash can at the ready, just in case he lost his lunch.

He was not even 1½ hours into his first match at Flushing Meadows in two years, and while Djokovic eventually would get past Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 Tuesday, it was a bit of an ordeal.

With the temperature topping 95 degrees and the humidity approaching 50 percent — and that combination making it feel more like 105 degrees — nearly everything became a struggle for every player across the grounds on Day 2 of the U.