Juan Martín del Potro has made many comebacks in his career, but he was reluctant to return to the court of Arthur Ashe Stadium at the United States Open on Tuesday afternoon.

After taking a shower, he lay on a table in the men’s locker room during the 10-minute break allowed after the third set of men’s matches in extreme heat, fighting the urge to stay in the air-conditioned oasis longer.

“I don’t want to come back again,” del Potro said in his on-court interview. “In the heat, it’s impossible to play tennis.”

But he did return, unfortunately for John Isner. And he dominated the fourth set to complete a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory.