Serbia's Novak Djokovic cools down during his Australian Open match yesterday. Pic/Getty Images

Novak Djokovic says the furnace conditions at the Australian Open were right on the limit as he won a survival of the fittest battle with Gael Monfils to reach the third round yesterday. The six-time champion, playing in his first tournament for six months after an elbow injury, just did enough to carve out a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 win on baking Rod Laver Arena. Playing conditions were described as brutal as temperatures hovered around 40 Celsius, prompting Djokovic to say a safety limit had been reached for the players.