Melbourne — Six-time 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°C and reports of 69°C being measured on the court surface, Djokovic recovered from a woeful start to take his record over the unseeded Frenchman to 15-0. Later defending champion Roger Federer coolly swept into the third round, beating Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7/4), avoiding the worst of the furnace-like conditions during his night match. "I practise with him, so I had the information I needed," Federer said, adding that the heat did not bother him. "If you want to get to the top, you’ve got to play in all conditions." It was never going to be easy for the German. While Federer had made at least the third round each year since his Melbourne Park debut in 2000, Struff had failed to go further than the second round at any Grand Slam. Djokovic, playing his ...
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