Djokovic survived the 40 degrees hell, Monfils didn't! The Serb is going to the third round of Australian Open after a fiery duel! (PHOTO) (VIDEO)
Novak is playing against a Spaniard Albert Ramos, who eliminated Tim Smyczek
Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round of the Australian Open since he won against Gael Monfils with 3:1 (4:6, 6:3, 6:1, 6:3). The match was played under enormous heat which was not good for the French man and who was barely standing at one point.
Recommended
Montenegrins want to take Ostrog from Serbian Orthodox Church: They want the state to return "the stolen church property"
Americans started wearing Serbian jerseys because of Bogi: Bogdanovic broke the record, but Teo was victorious! (VIDEO)
The match was played under the strongest sun in Australia with the temperatures reaching 40 degrees, so the players struggled to stay on the court and to survive the true hell. The heat caused great problems to both players and significantly higher to Monfils, who was barely standing at one moment, and he had to take a medical time-out to refresh due to the temperature shock.
Novak finally consolidated himself on service after losing the first set, where he lost his service three times, and after that, he didn't allow any break points to the rival, while saving few crucial break points in the fourth set where he celebrated and we can freely say that - he survived the Australian hell, unlike his adversary.
Novak Djokovic started the match poorly since he lost two services at the start and he enabled Monfils to take the lead with 3:0. However, there was an immediate series by Djokovic of 3:0 where he took the service from the opponent twice.
After the tie of 33:3, Monfils made a break again, and Djokovic couldn't use two break chances so the Frenchman took the lead with 5:3. Novak soon reduced the advantage but he missed two break chances in the next game and Monfils won the first set.
We saw a much more stable Novak on Service in the next set. He didn't allow Monfils a single break chance, while he missed three opportunities to take the service from the rival in the sixth game.
The third set brought the complete domination by Djokovic. He won the set with 6:1 and he took the lead with 2:1 in sets.
In those moments, Monfils had serious physical problems and it seemed as if the heat completely drained him and he was barely standing. He asked for a medical timeout to refresh a bit due to temperature shock. However, he got some strength to give some resistance until the end to Novak.
Both players were good at the start of the fourth set. Monfils had small problems when Novak reached him in 40:40, the Frenchman tied 2:2 in games.
After that, we saw a marathon game where Djokovic was better. He saved four break chances which Monfils had.
That was the key moment of the game and after that Monfils just dropped in his game.
Djokovic didn't use the three match-balls, but he did the fourth and the qualified to the next round.
Novak is playing against a Spaniard Albert Ramos, who eliminated Tim Smyczek.