Fed-Ex, Djoker prevail

ROGER Federer has made light of energy-sapping conditions to brush past Yoshihito Nishioka in his opening match at the US Open, while Novak Djokovic battled to a firstround win.

Other players slogged through 35C heat on Tuesday, but Federer, 37, kept his time on court to a minimum with a 6-2 6-2 6-4 evening win on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I’m happy to be back in New York, healthy — the last couple of years have been difficult so it’s nice to be back, feeling really good,” Federer said.

Djokovic overcame Marton Fucsovics in punishing temperatures that prompted officials to observe a heat rule for men’s singles matches for the first time.

The Serb sixth seed looked in real trouble in the soaring heat but recovered to win 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.