Djokovic, untroubled by scorching conditions, dispatches Monfils 4-6 6-3 6-1 6-3 as Frenchman is checked by doctor when torrid conditions left him feeling woozy
Thursday 18 January 2018 09:54, UK
Novak Djokovic survived a gruelling fitness test under the brutal Melbourne sun to stay alive at the Australian Open on Thursday.
As the thermometer headed towards an energy-sapping 40C and reports of 69 degrees being measured on the court surface, Djokovic and his opponent Gael Monfils took to a sun-baked Rod Laver Arena for their second-round clash.
Monfils had lost all 14 of their previous professional meetings and, after he won the first set, the heat began to take a serious toll on the Frenchman, who appeared to consider retiring before eventually going down 4-6 6-3 6-1 6-3.
Djokovic, who has had his fair share of struggles in the heat during his career, said: "It was obvious that we both suffered on the court. Really tough conditions, brutal, especially for the first hour and a half. I was just hanging in there trying to use every single opportunity. Obviously he wasn't at his best at the end of the second and the entire third set."
It was certainly more than hot enough for Monfils, who began to double over repeatedly early in the second set. After saving a raft of break points to hold for 3-3, Monfils simply walked from side to side during a Djokovic service game.
The six-time champion looked like a man who had been sidelined for six months during the first set, making uncharacteristic errors at bad times and finding his remodelled serve given a pounding.
He let Monfils off the hook for most of the second set, too, before finally converting a break point at 4-3. At the end of the set the Frenchman called for the doctor and appeared to express a wish to retire.
But, after leaving the court for a bathroom break, he returned to play the third set. That was over very quickly but Monfils roused himself in the fourth before Djokovic finally clinched victory on his fourth match point.
Djokovic goes forward to a third-round meeting with 21st seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas after the Spaniard defeated Tim Smyczek from America 6-4 6-2 7-6 (7-2).
Dark horse David Goffin's Australian Open hopes went up in smoke as he fell to a 1-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 7- 6 (7-4) to French veteran Julien Benneteau while Juan Martin del Potro fired 60 winners on his way to a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (0-7) 6-4 victory over young Russian Karen Khachanov.
Del Potro, in his first appearance in Melbourne for four years after wrist injuries, will face Czech veteran Tomas Berdych in the third round.
"I am so happy to be playing in Melbourne after so many years and that's what I miss, this kind of fight," Del Potro said on court.
"I have pain everywhere after that match but I am still standing up and that's good."
Dominic Thiem survived his first career five-set match at the Australian Open, rallying from two sets down to defeat 190th-ranked American qualifier Denis Kudla 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-3 while American Sam Querrey was knocked out after losing 6-4 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 6-2 to 80th-ranked Marton Fucsovics of Hungary.
