Iva Jokic loses thrilling match at US Open after medical scare

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The heat dashed Iva Jokic’s dream of a third-round win over Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open.

The 16-year-old American Jokic, the youngest player in the main draw, took on 29th-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova.

But the conditions were so scorching, with temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius, that the heat began to take its toll on her halfway through the second set.

She required medical treatment and had her blood pressure and heart rate monitored.

Jokic, a junior Wimbledon semi-finalist last month, returned to the match, but Alexandrova won the second set.

Jokic came to life and, to be fair, came very close to another victory in a thrilling final set.

She avoided six match points as a tiebreak loomed, before the Russian eventually won 4-6 6-4 7-5.

Sabalenka awaits in the third round after last year’s finalist defeated Lucia Bronzetti 6-3 6-1.

There was a sweet moment after the game when she met a young fan who looked just like her, including a replica tiger tattoo.

The Belarusian said: “It was a really cute moment. I just looked up and I saw on the big screen a mini-me. It was so cute.

“It’s such a motivation to keep going and inspire the young generation. That’s the main goal.”

The openness and vulnerability of the top women was again highlighted when Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova was knocked out in the second round.

The Czech, who defeated Jasmine Paolini in the final at SW19 last month, lost to world number 61 Elena-Gabriela Ruse.

Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen came back from a set down to defeat Erika Andreeva 6-7 (3) 6-1 6-2.