Andy Murray said he was pleased to have a less-stressful win at the US Open, as he eased into the fourth round.
Andy Murray prefers playing in lesser heat
World number three Andy Murray said playing later in the day when the heat is less came as a relief to him at the US Open.
Murray's three-set win over Thomaz Bellucci on Saturday came in stark contrast to his five-setter against Adrian Mannarino two days earlier, with the Briton having to come from two-sets-to-love down to progress past the Frenchman.
The 2012 champion said playing in the second night session match helped him after his battle during the heat of the day against Mannarino.
"I think conditions were so much nicer to play in today, as well," Murray told a news conference ahead of a last-16 clash against 15th seed Kevin Anderson.
"Like after long rallies and stuff, you weren't really struggling for breath as much.
"I also think, conditioning-wise, the first couple rounds, it really doesn't get much harder than that. Maybe it will get bad again, but they're some of the toughest conditions you'll play in during the year.
"To get through those matches, especially the second one [against Mannarino], was important. Yeah, much easier tonight."
Murray has been battling a cold but he 'felt much better' on Saturday, after his request to play later in the schedule was heeded.
The Scotsman was positive on his performance, too.
"I felt like I played well. I mean, in these conditions, it's a bit easier to control the ball. The ball was not bouncing as high. It was a bit sort of flatter.
"Like in the conditions the other days, when you tried to flatten the ball out, it was quite easy for it to sail on you. The ball was flying a lot more, whereas today, when you flattened the ball out, it was a bit easier to control, [but] harder to serve.
"It was much slower conditions to serve in, so less aces. The speed of the serve was a bit lower.
"But then obviously returning's a little bit easier, as well. So I felt like I played well. But the conditions helped that, too."
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