NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Simona Halep and Stan Wawrinka beat the heat with straight-sets wins to reach the third round of a sweltering U.S. Open on Thursday while American hope Jack Sock wilted under the punishing conditions, collapsing on court.
However, Andy Murray and Johanna Konta showed British players can sweat it out for a win as both went the distance to claim second round victories.
Third seed Murray came out ice cold on a broiling afternoon but caught fire and rallied for a five-set 5-7 4-6 6-1 6-3 6-1 win over Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.
Konta, meanwhile, provided the upset of the day after toiling for three hours and 27 minutes under a blazing sun to see off ninth-seeded Spaniard and Wimbledon finalist Garbine Muguruza 7-6(4) 6-7(4) 6-2.
“We need to believe, which is not always easy,” Murray told reporters. “Obviously, I had quite a few opportunities, I think I was one for seven on breakpoints (in the first set).
