Andy Murray admitted he struggled with his breathing in very humid conditions after seeing off Germany’s Florian Mayer in straight sets in the third round of the US Open.
The defending champion endured a difficult first set on Arthur Ashe, where he never looked comfortable, but he upped his level in the tie-break and dominated the second and third sets.
Murray was only on court for a minute under two hours but looked drained as he finished off a 7-6 (7/2) 6-2 6-2 victory.
The Scot said: “It was tough conditions. It was very, very humid. With the way that he plays, it was a tough match, especially the beginning.
“But I started the second set well. I started hitting the ball a little bit cleaner, was more aggressive after that, and finished it well.
“I was struggling breathing for most of the match.”
Murray spends a lot of his time training in Miami to prepare him for such conditions, but the effect of his latest block last month has largely worn off.
He said: “You can get used to something, and then if you aren’t in those conditions for five weeks or four weeks – it’s been four and a half weeks since I’ve been in Miami – that doesn’t always just stay with you.
“Suddenly it’s extremely humid and you’re playing right in the heat of the day. That takes time to get used to.”
Having beaten Leonardo Mayer not entirely convincingly on Friday, it was the Argentinian’s namesake Florian who stood in the way of Murray reaching the second week.
The world number 47 is a tricky customer with an unorthodox double-handed slice backhand who had given Murray a tough time in both their previous meetings.
The Scot would have been happy to be back on Arthur Ashe after a trip to Louis Armstrong, where he always seems to struggle, and he was given a great welcome even though the stands were far from full.
Next up for Murray is a fourth-round encounter with world number 65 Denis Istomin, who he beat in their only previous match in Brisbane in January.