Defending champion Novak Djokovic battled through a shoulder injury to make the US Open third round with a win over Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Londero.
Similarly, last year’s losing finalist, Serena Williams also made it to the next round as she fought back from a set down to beat American teenager Caty McNally in an entertaining late-night match.
In the men’s section, top seed, Djokovic needed treatment three times, but still went on to win 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-1.
“It was definitely affecting my serve and my backhand,” said Djokovic, who lost his serve five times.
The Serb added he had not felt that “kind of sensation too many times” in his career.
“I didn’t know if I would be able to finish the match. I’m really glad I have,” he said.
Fellow Serb Dusan Lajovic will be Djokovic’s next opponent if he beats American Denis Kudla.
Their meeting was one of the many second-round matches cancelled on Wednesday after rain decimated play in New York.
Only the eight matches played underneath the closed roofs on Arthur Ashe Stadium – where 16-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic beat Londero in the first match of the night session – and Louis Armstrong Stadium survived the drizzle which fell for the majority of the third day.
Djokovic, 32, is favourite to win his fourth title at Flushing Meadows after winning four of the past five Grand Slams, yet the sight of him needing intense massages in his second-round match may provide hope to his rivals that the Serb is not invincible.
Djokovic asked for a first medical timeout immediately before breaking back for 3-3 in the first set, calling the trainer again moments after he clinched the opener by outlasting Londero in a 22-shot rally.
Londero, who had never played in the main draw at Flushing Meadows until this tournament, managed to take advantage in a fluctuating second set where he led 3-0 and trailed 5-3 before forcing a tie-break.
However, Djokovic upped the intensity to dominate the second-set decider and encountered few problems from then on.
Despite his obvious struggles, Djokovic showed little sign of frustration throughout the first two sets, although hammering a ball into the court between serves when Londero broke again at the start of the third set did indicate his displeasure and discomfort.
Nevertheless, Djokovic quickly ran away with the final set as Londero starting racking up unforced errors, winning in two hours and 15 minutes.
“I was also lucky to find my way back in the second set and to win in straight sets,” Djokovic added.
“At changeovers, I tried to use within the rules as much as I can physiotherapy and medical help. That has definitely helped me stay in the match.
“The good thing about Grand Slams is you have a day off in between the matches. I’m hoping that with proper medical help and treatments, I’ll be able to get myself in a better state than I was today.
For Williams, 37,she took control midway through the second set to win 5-7 6-3 6-1.
The eighth seed dropped just five points in a one-sided final set.
“I survived tonight. I am not too pleased with the way I played at all, but it’s OK, I’m alive. I’ll do better. I promise,” said Williams.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion will play Czech Karolina Muchova or Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei in the third round.
Williams thrashed long-time rival Maria Sharapova in the opening round on Monday, but was given a much sterner test by McNally on the 17-year-old’s first main-draw appearance at Flushing Meadows.
McNally, ranked 121st in the world, constructed some excellent points as she tried to move Williams around the court and it proved successful when she claimed the first break point of the match for a 6-5 lead.
After fighting off three break-back points, McNally sealed the set at the second attempt to move halfway to a famous victory against one of the all-time greats, who had already won the 1999 US Open before McNally was born in November 2001.
Eventually Williams found a level closer to her best, breaking for a 4-2 lead in the second set and levelling after missing four set points on McNally’s serve.
The final set was a different story to the previous two, Williams winning 16 of the opening 17 points and needing little over 20 minutes to clinch victory.
Williams will find out her next opponent on Thursday. The meeting between Hsieh and Muchova was one of the many first-round matches cancelled on Wednesday after rain decimated play in New York.
Earlier in Wednesday’s night session, Australian second seed Ashleigh Barty battled past American Lauren Davis in straight sets.
The French Open champion, 23, saved a set point in the second before taking her fourth match point to win 6-2 7-6 (7-2) on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
