WATCH | Australian Open: Novak Djokovic outlasts Gael Monfils in brutal Melbourne heat

Six-times champion Novak Djokovic survived the Rod Laver Arena furnace to reach the third round of the Australian Open with a 4-6 6-3 6-1 6-3 victory over Gael Monfils on Thursday.

With temperatures peaking at 39.9 degrees Celsius and reports of 69 degrees being measured on the court surface, Djokovic recovered from a woeful start to take his record over the unseeded Frenchman to 15-0.

Djokovic, playing his first tournament for six months because of an elbow problem, dropped his opening two service games and although he battled back to break Monfils twice he wavered again as scrappy opener went his opponents’ way.

After a 24-stroke rally in the sixth game of the second set it was clear Monfils was struggling to cope with the heat and he repeatedly asked the umpire for more than the allowed 25 seconds recovery time between points.

Both players hung iced towels around their necks at changeovers and Monfils, who leant on his racket at times, seemingly to remain standing, needed the doctor, telling the umpire that he was dizzy and feeling sick.

“I was dying on the court for 40 minutes,” Monfils told reporters later after having cooled down in a cold tub.

Djokovic rattled through the …read more