Novak Djokovic enjoys mid-match ice bath at US Open

Novak Djokovic suffered in sweltering US Open conditions but held on to reach the second round with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory over Hungarian Marton Fucsovics.

Novak Djokovic said it was a “magnificent feeling” when he and US Open opponent Marton Fucsovics sat naked in separate, adjacent ice baths during a heat break on Tuesday.

Novak Djokovic reacts to winning the third set during his US Open first round match against Marton Fucsovics. (NYT)

For the first time in the history of the Grand Slam event, male players have been told they can take a 10-minute break from the searing heat when a match has reached two sets to one.

Djokovic and Hungary’s Fucsovics spent their brief time off court at the Arthur Ashe Stadium by stripping down and plunging into ice baths to cool off from the 38-degree heat.

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“I want to thank US Open for allowing us to have a 10 minute break. I think we both needed it,” said Wimbledon champion and two-time US Open winner Djokovic.

“We had the ice baths next to each other. We were naked in the ice baths -- it was a magnificent feeling I must say to be naked with the guy you are still battling when the match hasn’t finished.”

Djokovic won the first round tie 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.