MELBOURNE — Novak Djokovic improved his sparkling record against Gael Monfils to 15-0 on Thursday afternoon inside Rod Laver Arena. Playing in blistering 100-plus degree weather, Djokovic pushed through, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3.

“It was obvious that we both suffered on the court today—really tough conditions, brutal especially for the first hour and a half,” Djokovic said. “I was coming into the match knowing that it’s going to be a big challenge for both of us.”

There’s no doubting the No. 14-seeded Djokovic wanted to put the first set behind him. He fell behind 3-0 (a double break) before clawing his way back, only to be broken again. Double faults (five of them) were the uncharacteristic product of the Serb’s new service motion—at least in the first set.

"I had the nervous start," Djokovic said. "I wasn't really comfortable at the very beginning. I can't blame conditions for my double faults. I mean, it's still that motion that I'm kind of getting used to."

But then, as is the case often with Monfils, he went away just enough to give Djokovic the reins. The last time these two faced off in a Grand Slam was the semifinals of the 2016 US Open—one of the most bizarre matches of the year in which the Frenchman appeared to be tanking for chunks of the four-set affair.

It’s no secret that Djokovic’s steady workhorse style of play matches perfectly for him against Monfils’ erratic and often risky game.

“Gael is one of the best athletes if not the best athlete in our sport,” Djokovic said. "It was obvious that he was not at his best. At times we were both just trying to get a little bit of extra breath, a few seconds more, so we can recover. We were also getting into some long exchanges and rallies. That's what happens when we play each other."

"I get super dizzy," Monfils said. "I think I have a small heat stroke for 40 minutes. Couldn't feel like fresh."

With Djokovic in the driver’s seat at two sets to one, the fourth set became physically competitive. Both men were hauling each other around the baseline, and Djokovic looked visibly red-faced while Monfils often needed to bend over. Coach Andre Agassi certainly chose the wrong day to wear a black shirt.

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It was easy to forget that Djokovic hasn’t competed since Wimbledon with an elbow injury. Was he match-fit and healthy enough to grind out a taxing match in these conditions?

“It’s still not at 100 percent, but building,” Djokovic said about his sleeved elbow. “I had a lot of faith and self-belief. I know what I’m capable of.”

The former No. 1 stepped up to the challenge for a key break at 4-3. Instead of serving it out with ease, his rustiness crept in, needing four match points to pull it off.

As much as players can say they love tennis until they’re blue in the face, on days as hot as this, nothing can sound better than getting off the court. But that’s just not really the case for Djokovic.

“Coming to this court is always such a special feeling because I’ve had such wonderful memories in the past,” the six-time Australian Open champion said. “This has been the most singe successful court in my career.”

Read Joel Drucker and Nina Pantic on TENNIS.com as they report from the Australian Open, and watch them each day on The Daily Mix:

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