Rod Laver Arena holds a unique place in Novak Djokovic’s heart – even on a searing 39-degree afternoon.
As the six-time Australian Open champion makes it known, it is the single most successful court he has competed on in his career. And he’s won on more courts than most.
Like any champion looking to bounce back from adversity, there is a propensity to keep the good times at the forefront of mind and to bury the bad.
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Thursday’s 4-6 6-3 6-1 6-3 second-round triumph over former top-tenner Gael Monfils was one to add to the good memories checklist, even if battle was waged in gruelling conditions, which had both men reaching for the ice towels and electrolytes at every shaded opportunity.
“One of the toughest ones, yeah,” Djokovic said. “The conditions were brutal, that's for sure.
“I mean, we both struggled. Maybe he struggled a bit more, you know, in a period, end of the second set, entire third set. That's where I think I managed to get on top of him.”
Burying the bad times might have seemed a challenge when the 14th seed – playing his first tour-level event since an elbow injury ended his season six months ago – dropped the opening set.
His most recent outing on Rod Laver Arena was also a daytime second-round match, where he also lost the opening set.
That was 12 months ago, when he as the defending champion he was stunned in a five-set boilover to then world No.117 Denis Istomin.
It proved the prelude to a tough year in which he battled off-court woes, a form slump and ultimately the right elbow injury, which ended his season in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Monfils had never beaten his foe in 14 prior appearances but had picked up the Doha title leading in.
His best hope was to catch out a rusty Djokovic with an athletic first-strike game style.
“I was mentioning on the court that he truly is one of the best athletes we have in tennis,” Djokovic said.
“He hasn't lost a match this year. He won a tournament, he was feeling confident. He started well, I didn't start well at all.”
Serving at 2-3 in the second set, Monfils suddenly lost all energy as he rolled in three-quarter-pace serves. Three break points went begging for the Serb as Monfils hunched in the shadows. Somehow the Frenchman salvaged a hold for 3-3 before he retreated behind the speed clock and requested a bottle of water from the ballkids.
The second set inevitably headed Djokovic’s way and after taking a bathroom break, Monfils looked a spent force as the third set whizzed past.
Djokovic knows all too well not to allow a Monfils let-down to catch him off guard and the Frenchman began to find a second wind when he ripped a backhand winner to bring up break points at 2-all in the fourth.
After a time violation warning and having saved four break points, Djokovic stood his ground to see off the late charge.
“When you're facing such conditions, obviously it affects you mentally, as well,” Djokovic said.
“It was a big challenge for both of us to be on the court, to be able to finish the match. I'm just glad that I managed to come out on top.”
His courtside brains trust – Andre Agassi and Radek Stepanek – rose as one as a backhand volley sealed the result.
Arms raised, Agassi removed his broad-brimmed hat – a tip of the hat to his charge, perhaps.
That’s one man who could empathise with toughing it out on Rod Laver Arena.
