American Jack Sock, overcome by heat, retires from U.S. Open

NEW YORK — For the second straight year, American Jack Sock was done in by the heat and cramps at the U.S. Open on Grandstand.

Leading 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 1-2 against world No. 107 Ruben Bemelmans, Sock suffered  cramps on the court, bringing the match to a halt. Sock, the No. 28 seed, had been given a point penalty because of his incapacity to serve at break point down at 1-1, handing the game to Bemelmans.

The trainer came out and assisted a grimacing Sock to the ground, who then motioned that he would opt out of the match.

"Playing in the U.S. Open is the biggest and most important moment of the season for me, so having to retire from my match today is extremely disappointing," Sock said in a statement. "I want to thank everyone for their support and can't wait to be back next year. I feel better already and look forward to playing Davis Cup."

A year ago, Sock retired in a match on the same court before cramps set in, fearing that he would be unable to continue. He trailed Pablo Andujar two sets to one.

Thursday he was given tablets between the third and fourth sets, including Ibuprofen. He told the doctor on court that he was “worried about cramping.”

That came true moments later with Sock, who lay on court with ice towels draped on him before a wheelchair came out. He was helped off the court without the wheelchair by trainers.

“That was a very scary situation we saw unfold with Jack Sock,” Patrick McEnroe said moments later on ESPN. “He looked completely out of it. He had to actually be helped to the ground.”

Later in the afternoon, Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan retired during his match, making it 14 players who have retired from play at the U.S. Open through four days.

On Monday and Tuesday, 12 players – 10 men and two women – retired, a record at the tournament for the first round of play. The Sock and Istomin retirements bring this tournament's total close to the record in a Grand Slam, set here in 2011, when 17 players quit mid-match.

Temperatures in Queens soared to above 90 degrees on Thursday, with humidity nearing 50%. The heat rule was in effect for the women, though the men do not have such a rule.

“I gave it my all. Too bad he was cramping,” said Bemelmans, a Belgian. “He was playing well the first two sets. It’s not a nice feeling … I know it.”

Sock, a 2010 U.S. Open junior champion, made the third round here in 2012 and 2013 but has not gone beyond that. He made headlines in June when he pushed Rafael Nadal to four sets in the fourth round of the French Open.

The Nebraska native, who will turn 23 later this month, is tapped as one of the rising American stars on the men’s tour.

Sock was nearly frozen on the baseline for much of the final game of the match, unable to chase down a drop shot from Bemelmans and double faulting before the cramps completely set in.

Bemelmans came over to shake hands with Sock, who could barely lift his arm. He limply fist bumped Bemelmans, who will next face No. 5 seed Stan Wawrinka in the third round.

PHOTOS: Early rounds at the U.S. Open