Emma Raducanu vs Wang Yafan – Australian Open LIVE: Brits’ last woman breaks back to lead in the second set after losing the first, after Katie Boulter is eliminated – and Jack Draper’s gone!

Just a flat out refusal to give up on both sides and that makes this such compelling viewing.

They are slugging it out rally after rally and it just highlights the level and the quality required at the top level.

Raducanu is resurgent in this second set but it’s still very much in the balance.

In. The. Balance.

That’s a fiercely determined hold from the Chinese.

Raducanu isn’t getting any freebies here.

Stepping in on the second serve of Wang almost paid dividends, only to miscue a forehand into the forehand court.

From there the quality would only heat up and so did the crowd noise.

At the end of a 20-shot rally Raducanu had forced Wang out wide and she clips the net post to tee up a break point.

That’s three consecutive games to the Brit now, some turnaround.

It’s not been vintage from Raducanu but given how long she’s been out, she’d take a gritty, non-aesthetic win from here.

Second set is firmly in the balance.

Emma Raducanu* 4-6, 2-2 Wang Yafan

With her FIFTH break point in the game, Raducanu is aggressive, closes the distance and finishes into the open court with a driving volley.

Four break points have come and gone now for the Brit.

Wang is like a brick wall on the other side of that net. Remarkable defence.

Can’t be wasting two break points at a moment in the match like this.

That’s a huge opportunity missed.

Can’t tell if Wang doesn’t want me to go home and is livening this up or she’s actually lost a bit of focus.

A couple of abandoned ball tosses were one tell-tale sign before she plugged in a double fault to set up two break point opportunities.

Huge roar from the partisan crowd as Raducanu delivers a lovely cross-court passing shot forehand winner.

Wang thought she’d won another break when Raducanu looked to be on the backfoot but the powers of recovery were on show for all to see there.

Stops the rot.

A clever drop shot cross-court has turned this one around. Wang gets to it but can only lift it to the net tape, to the delight of Raducanu.

This is getting ugly fast for Raducanu.

Wang has the answers to everything right now and while she saves the first of the break points, another on the way right behind.

Emma Raducanu’s mum (middle row, far left) is in attendance and watching on here.

Iain Bates (sat next to her) is making notes on an iPad as he tracks this Raducanu display.

Emma Raducanu 4-6, 0-1 *Wang Yafan

Disastrous.

But perhaps I and others were simply expecting too much from Raducanu after six months on the sidelines injured.

Wang has been fabulous.

Problems, problems, problems here.

I’m stating the obvious here – I have been on this blog for seven-plus hours now – but Emma Raducanu simply cannot relinquish a break this early in the second set.

It will be curtains, you’d think, if she does.

Wang has been absolutely ruthless with her first serve points, claiming 93% of them.

A far from ideal start.

Emma Raducanu now needs a flawless two sets to reach round three or it’s over and out for the Brits in the women’s singles draw.

Wang has sublime technique, you can see she has been brilliantly coached. A volley at the net sets up 15-0 before a miscued cross-court forehand from Raducanu puts her two points away from the first set.

A quick shake of the head from the Brit.

Nice little run here from Raducanu and she’s done all she can – make Wang serve for this opening set.

A quick sitdown at the changover, a swig of a pink drink, and she needs another break.

Double fault and Raducanu has a lifeline with one break eradicated.

That’s more like it from Raducanu, who finds some depth with a vicious cross-court forehand.

Break point now… and she has a second serve to attack.

Emma Raducanu 2-5 *Wang Yafan

This is turning into quite a disastrous day for the Brits.

Emma Raducanu, the fourth of them to play in singles today, is now a double break down to Wang Yafan.

This set is slipping away… fast.

Newfound respect for this Wang resolve. She just doesn’t know when she’s beaten in a point and it makes sense why she elected to receive after winning the toss.

Two break points for the Chinese now.

Selaed with an ace. Clinical.

Emma Raducanu has been in deeper holes than this one and come out of it… but she will be worried at the lack of finishing ability she has shown so far.

Wang looks comfortable on her own serve and is ready to hold to love here.

The wind actually works in Raducanu’s favour here as the ball bounced from one side of the net to the other before Wang could touch it – ensuring Raducanu held!

You don’t see that very often.

The more points I see here the more I’m of the belief that this is much more a finesse game than a power game. Conquer the elements and you’ll win.

This wind is no joke.

The problem I’ve got with Raducanu right now is that her serve out wide is being read with ease it’s become predictable.

Cannot afford to relinquish another break so soon. Settle down and dictate the rhythm again.

That early break has emboldened Wang – and who can blame her?

She’s finding the power that looked to be lacking from the first Raducanu serve and she’s close to consolidating her break here.

Emma Raducanu 1-2 *Wang Yafan

A miscued cross-court backhand at the net and Emma Raducanu is BROKEN.

She has handed that to Wang, but credit the Chinese’s competitive spirit. She is refusing to give up a single point.

A brilliant set-up shot from Raducanu as she kicks a serve out wide to the Wang forehand, before spacing out the court for an eventual long backhand return from Wang two shots later.

Wang does not seem to have any answers to that Raducanu forehand right now… and right on cue she shanks a forehand unhandomsely wide of the mark.

Really nice start that from Raducanu.

Her court coverage is superb and once she finds a groove in a point she’s got a brilliant knack of just dragging her opponent side to side.

Fairly routine so far – now what has she got returning.

It’s been a LONG wait… kudos to anyone who has stuck with me throughout.

But we’re about to get underway.

It’s been a brutal day for British hopefuls but I really liked what I saw from Emma Raducanu in her first round match against Shelby Rogers.

If she finds that level I expect her to dispose of Wang Yafan.

A day that started with so much hope has brought so much disappointment.

READ MORE.

Katie Boulter 3-6, 3-6 Qinwen Zheng

Moments after Jack Draper’s Australian Open campaign came to an end, Katie Boulter has also crashed out after a straight sets defeat against Qinwen Zheng.

She saved five match points but Zheng just refused to go away. A valiant effort nonetheless.

Hopes of an all-British third round clash against Emma Raducanu, who plays next on this court, have been dashed.

That’s that, the young Brit has been left to rue that missed set point up 5-4 in the fourth and it’s Tommy Paul’s first ever win over Jack Draper.

He is beaten 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5

Tommy Paul* 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-5 Jack Draper

Oh no! Jack Draper had a set point moments ago and now he’s been broken and Tommy Paul will serve for the match in the fourth set.

A brutal turn of events.

Three break points for Katie Boulter. HAS to take one. Has to.

Katie Boulter 3-6, 3-5 *Qinwen Zheng

A costly double fault from Katie Boulter and Qinwen Zheng is now serving for the match.

That is so, so disappointing for the Brit.

Will Jack Draper come back to rue that missed set point?

It feels damaging that Paul has managed to wriggle out of that one with a hold of serve.

The young Brit is still hanging in there but it’s looking ominous.

It’s been a long time coming in fairness but he’s just made a public address urging people not to speak or shout out during points and serves.

A costly double fault from Boulter concedes the break. Nightmare.

Boulter’s sixth forehand winner of the set teed up two game points and the Brit is beaten by a backhand winner for the first, before netting the second of them having been rushed.

Important she consolidates her break with a hold here. It’s positively crucial.

This guy is a joy to watch. An absolute JOY.

A fabulous and vicious cross-court winner sets up break point and after a service fault brings up second serve, Zheng, who has an issue with a member in the crowd, double faults.

Advantage Boulter.

Back to events with Jack Draper and he is doing all he can to try and force a deciding set.

The fight he is showing is admirable. He feels like he’s got a second wind and with Andy Murray as one of his heroes, he was one who would never quit.

A HUGE shock in the women’s draw.

Clara Burel is just 22 but this is easily the most impressive win of her career to date. Wow.

Tommy Paul 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 2-2 *Jack Draper

A pumped up Jack Draper levels things up in this fourth set, much to the disappointment of Tommy Paul.

Will that inject some life back into this contest for the young Brit? Let’s see…

Oh dear – a lot for Katie Boulter to think about at this change of ends.

Riddled by unforced errors, the British No 1 coughs up the first set at the first opportunity.

Tommy Paul 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 2-0 *Jack Draper

The American looks in a hurry now and he’s rushing to get this wrapped up.

He breaks Jack Draper to start the fourth and then holds in the blink of an eye.

No free points for Katie Boulter here but she’s definitely in this match.

It’s an impressive hold from Zheng but if Boulter can settle herself on the first serve, this one could turn quickly.

Tommy Paul 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 Jack Draper

Draper looks a little bit leggy and he needs to shake that off if he’s to have any chance.

Katie Boulter 2-3 *Qinwen Zheng

That’s a break for a break, then. Both players look a lot more comfortable on the return which is no surprise.

Poor serving conditions means they are shaving some power off and it’s showing.

Katie Boulter* 2-2 Qinwen Zheng

The wind is causing some issues for the Chinese now and the partisan crowd – littered with Brits crying ‘come on Katie!’ – are making a racket.

Smile from Boulter after a clever drop shot seals the break.

Back to the Jack Draper match and he is forcing some exquisite shots out of Tommy Paul here to make the American earn these holds of serve.

One set from taking a two-set to one lead now.

The defeated American has confirmed in her post-match press conference that her defeat by Iga Swiatek will be her final match at the Australian Open in her career.

Katie Boulter 0-2 Qinwen Zheng

Way to go backing up that early break.

Work to do here for Katie Boulter against a player that, while I haven’t watched her every single week on Tour, has no obvious weaknesses.

She’s impeccably solid.

Disastrous opening service game from Katie Boulter as she is broken by Qinwen Zheng.

A backhand slice doesn’t pay off down break point and it sits up perfectly for Zheng to attack cross court.

Tommy Paul* 6-2, 3-6, 2-0 Jack Draper

That’s a gift for the American I’m afraid but is sort of befitting of the topsy-turvy nature of this match.

He’s found his big serve again and Draper has just miscued at crucial times.

This one won’t be easy but Katie Boulter is out and is looking relaxed, resplendent in green once again.

Twelfth seed Qinwen Zheng stands in her way.

The brilliant Laura Robson is on co-commentary duty for this one.

If you’re just waking up and wondering what you missed, Iga Swiatek produced an epic on Rod Laver Arena.

READ THE REPORT HERE.

Tommy Paul 6-2, 3-6 Jack Draper

Now we have a game.

Winning 92 per cent of his second serve points, that was much, much better from Jack Draper.

Tommy Paul knows he is in for a game now.

Look at that disparity in winners… and yet the one marching on is the British No 1.

Funny how that happens.

It’s Katie Boulter up next on this court.

Cameron Norrie 3-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 Guilio Zeppieri

Game. Set. Match.

A comeback for the ages.

For only the third time in his career, Cameron Norrie has come back from two sets down to take victory.

The British No 1 could see the exit sign flashing above the Australian Open door but he refused to give up.

Little by little he got a foothold and now he marches on to round three where he will face Casper Ruud.

Tommy Paul 6-2, 2-4 (30-40) *Jack Draper

And Jack Draper is left standing on top. The quality is off the charts.

Cameron Norrie* 3-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4, 5-4 Guilio Zeppieri

A potentially HUGE moment as the Italian blinks.

Cameron Norrie now has the chance to serve his way to the third round.

Reminder: he was two sets down and looked all but out.

Mike Dickson was so well regarded by all of the players on the ATP and WTA Tours.

Novak Djokovic is the latest to send his condolences.

Thank you, Novak.

Go on then.

There is so much going on right now I need an extra pair of eyes. But over on the Show Court, Jack Draper has a glint in his eye now.

He’s such a powerful hitter but it’s his decision making that I like a lot right now. He’s not just leathering it in hope, he’s picking his spots and Tommy Paul just can’t seem to stem the tide.

Tommy Paul 6-2, 1-3 *Jack Draper

A great response after he was outplayed for much of that first serve.

The young Brit has just broken to take advantage of this second set.

Tommy Paul’s level has dropped a smidge. Draper just has to consolidate it now.

Another of the Marathon Men is Alexander Zverev and he has just pulled himself through a grueller.

Lie down pending for the German.

A lovely moment just now before Norrie serves in the sixth game of the fifth set.

A tribute in commentary to the great Mike Dickson, our man on the ground for tennis for more than three decades at the Mail.

‘He followed the Brits everywhere and this is a massive loss to tennis’

Cameron Norrie* 3-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4, 2-3 Guilio Zeppieri

Sealed with an ace.

That will sting for Norrie. There were chances there to steal that game.

Opportunity knocks here for Cameron Norrie.

Guilio Zeppieri has shown cracks in the armour after more than three hours of on-court action.

Any break now – particularly with the Italian’s first serve contnually going awry – would be massive.

I spoke about some marathon matches earlier… well here is Casper Ruud beating home favourite Max Purcell in a five-set epic.

I’ll give credit to Guilio Zeppieri for hanging in there after his medical time-out.

He is not giving Norrie an inch right now and every point earned has been EARNED.

It seems the Italian’s game-plan is to just stay in rallies as long as he can in a bid to force mistakes. He’s not moving too much off his baseline.

Tommy Paul tightened up with a wayward attempt at a cross-court winner on the first of two set points but he makes no mistake on the second.

Smashing a winner out from the sky.

He’s blown Jack Draper away in that 41-minute opening set.

This has been near faultless from Tommy Paul and he’s now got two set points.

Paul looks so comfortable slugging it out from the baseline. No real appetite to close the distance which shows off his power.

It’s better news for Cameron Norrie as he scales the mountain to come back from two sets down to force a fifth set decider.

The momentum is all with the British No 1 now. What an effort.

Here’s a summary of that 6-4 fourth set.

Tommy Paul* 5-2 Jack Draper

OK so that was short lived.

Bloody hell.

That’s more like it. Jack Draper eradicates one of the breaks against him.

I hope that settles him down. He’s a big hitter, like Paul, but he can more than hold his own in this slugfest.

The Italian gingerly makes his way back onto the court as Cameron Norrie looks to serve his way to within one game of the fourth set.

Unsurprisingly the Brit wants to make the Italian run, particularly with this niggling calf complaint.

Solid tactic.

Jack Draper has never previously dropped a set in his head-to-head with Tommy Paul but this has been a disastrous start.

He rushes to the net to try and pull it back to deuce but a comfortable passing shot down the line for Paul gives him a 4-1 advantage in the first set.

Just too good from the American right now.

Cameron Norrie’s opponent Guilio Zeppieri has called for the physio. Looks like a calf issue – although there was no obvious injury as he headed to the benches.

An early break helped settle any early nerves from Cameron Norrie and Guilio Zeppieri is suddenly allowing errors to creep in.

Norrie closing in on sending this to a deciding set.

Not too sure why I’m allowing this to breach the blog… it’s way too early for me to be salivating about breakfast.

But Iga Swiatek already has her eyes on some banana bread!

It’s first blood to the American as a cross-court forehand misses by a hair from Jack Draper.

Paul looks the more experienced player – which he is – and Draper needs to figure him out quickly on the fly to stop Paul running away with this.

Nine errors already by Jack Draper.

Keep that up and he’ll be back in the locker room and out of the tournament in no time.

Deuce it is.

A brilliant kick-serve out wide from Draper puts him in control of a point that he is able to finish with a cross-court volley at the net.

He needs to neutralise the heavy hitting of Paul by losing the distance.

Jack Draper – who threw up in a bin after his round one five-set epic – will be pleased to have opened with a hold.

But losing to love in Paul’s first service game, fit with his monstrous serve, won’t do much to inspire confidence.

Iga Swiatek is in esteemed company after that epic turnaround win.

Iga Swiatek 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 Danielle Collins

WHAT. A. MATCH.

Fighting back from a double break down in the deciding set, Iga Swiatek has just shown why she has absolutely no quit in her as the world No 1 rallies her way into the third round.

She dropped her two match points on Collins’ serve with a volley into the net and then a forehand return into the bottom of the net.

When a third presented itself Swiatek had had enough of the back and forth to win it with a spectacular backhand down the line. Wow.

It’s all going off with Iga Swiatek and Danielle Collins but we’ll be turning our attentions to Jack Draper now he’s out on court…

It’s too early for all this drama… but I still absolutely love it.

OK so I definitely wrote off the world No 1 too hastily.

Collins looks shaken now and she has to rid that at the changeover or she’ll lose this at a canter for Swiatek.

Leading by a double break… Danielle Collins has thrown it all away to the world No 1.

The panic etched on her face now has her box sweating.

She HAS to dig deep now it’s back on serve.

Right, let’s get back underway in this one…

No room for error now for Danielle Collins. Put simply, you feel she has to stay loose and hold serve here.

The tension in Rod Laver Arena is absolutely immense.

Two titans slugging it out.

I enjoyed the Mexican wave at the start but it was beginning to grate… maybe it’s just 4am and I’m being ungrateful.

But I am bleary eyed and very glad to see the players return to the court.

Now if the rain can kindly stay away we can finally get to watch some of these brilliant Brits in action.

Iga Swiatek* 6-4, 3-6, 2-4 Danielle Collins

In the blink of an eye Swiatek takes the break back. Collins turns her back to the court, hand on hip and takes a deep breath to compose herself.

Panic has to be setting in on both sides of the court for very different reasons.

I feel you, Iga. I feel you.

Iga Swiatek must think the world is against her.

A fortunate let cord presents Collins with two break points in the deciding set.

Swiatek is able to save the first coming into the net with a cross-court volleyed winner.

Collins claims it on the second though, getting into a short rally before Swiatek cannons a cross-court forehand well wide of the line to go down a double break.

This could be over real soon. What a match!

That’s a massive hold from Danielle Collins and she let out a huge roar when sealing game.

You can’t blame her either. Losing a break there would have undone so much of her good work.

It has to be flawless from here on in for Swiatek though. Anything less and she’ll be unceremoniously dumped out.

So much for some routine early round matches.

These are just some of the ties going on currently:

• Max Purcell 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 4-2 (30-30) Casper Ruud
• Alexander Zverev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 0-0 Lukas Klein
• Cameron Norrie 3-6, 6-7, 6-2, 0-0 Guilio Zeppieri

Disbelief is the ideal world to describe the world No 1.

It’s like her head is spinning and she can’t find a way to stop it.

Iga Swiatek 6-4, 3-6, 1-2 *Danielle Collins

Corr, that’s how you get a break in, with a thundering backhand winner.

Danielle Collins looks fully in control of this and Iga Swiatek, dear oh dear.

The world No 1 is like a heavyweight boxer who isn’t sure how to get off the ropes.

World No 1 Iga Swiatek doesn’t look comfortable at all now.

She’s changed her racket and just had another sent away to be re-strung.

A timely ace – her third of the match – gets her a foothold in this game.

Yeah, we’re in that sort of territory.

I can’t blame them, they need to entertain themselves.

The court now looks to have dried out but there is to be no play for a further 30 minutes, according to tournament organisers. They are reluctant to get going and for it to start raining again – which I get.

For now we keep our eyes peeled on this epic deciding set between Iga Swiatek and Danielle Collins.

That’s the idea brewing at the Australian Open.

Something tells me players won’t be too impressed when multiple drones are flying overhead delivering burgers and hot dogs, though.

Hat tip to the Australian Open account on X for this GIF – taken from Danielle Collins’ rallying cry to her box to get ‘up’ and make some noise.

Ok so, what’s the latest?

Well, this recent rain delay has gone on a while and has knocked everything back so here is what we know:

Jack Draper: Faces Tommy Paul, who was a semi-finalist here last year. He is the next scheduled match on Show Court 2. If we’re being optimistic that one could be underway by 4am BST.

Katie Boulter: Faces China’s Qinwen Zheng directly after Norrie. We have at least one more set to go in that one, if not two, so that could be much closer to 5-5:30am now.

Emma Raducanu: Was not due to take to the court before 3.30am – as she takes on China’s Wang Yafan. That was optimistic from organisers… it could be nearer to 7am UK time now in a boost to UK-based fans.

If you read anything today, tomorrow or for the rest of the week, I urge you to make it this.

A simply stunning tribute to one of the greats in sports journalism.

READ HERE.

The world No 62 has the world No 1 on the ropes you say?

Women’s tennis is one of the best things going. Every week there are upsets brewing and there is a real possibility of one right here.

That was a splendid set for the most part from Danielle Collins.

12 winners for the American compared to eight from the Pole.

Five have come and gone… here are three more if required.

Danielle Collins will be having flashbacks if she coughs up another break here.

It’s a strong start with a pair of Swiatek misses putting her within two points of the set.

A story that will go under the radar but some win this from Czech sensation Linda Noskova, particularly after a one-sided second set from her opponent.

The kids are alright, aren’t they?

Very wet, very drizzly and not fit to play tennis in.

Let’s hope I have better news for you very soon.

What a moment.

The American is pushing to take this one to a deciding set – and yet a fourth double fault in this seventh game of the set has seen Iga Swiatek break.

It looked like Collins had perhaps passed up her chance when a double fault saw her cough up the third of three set points.

A fourth set point came and went with a weak second serve punished as expected by the world No 1.

Saving two break points she turned to her box and yelled ‘Up! Up!’ as her team roared to their feet.

But Swiatek continued to punish every lapse and with a heavy arm, a double fault gifted one break back.

Iga Swiatek 6-4, 1-5 *Danielle Collins

This is extraordinary.

Iga Swiatek looks in deep, deep waters now and her coach is twitching in her box.

Brilliant from Danielle Collins and she will now serve for the set. Swiatek decides it’s time for a racket change.

Corrr, Swiatek drops one into the Collins backhand and the American absolutely rips it.

I’m sat here on my own beaming at that shot. Mamma Mia.

Here. We. Go.

What have you got world No 1?

Danielle Collins is determined to give this Rod Laver Arena crowd a show and the semi-finalist from a few years ago isn’t willing to go out on a whimper.

Her serve has looked good but writing Swiatek off seems positively foolish. Cracking match that is in the balance now.

There is just something about tennis under a roof.

I just absolutely love it.

Pin-drop silence as a cross-court back-hand winner wrongfoots the world No 1 and there’s life in Danielle Collins’ Australian Open campaign yet.

I told you she wasn’t done after that first set!

No, Ben. The answer is no.

What a fabulous player.

Work to do at the start of the second set though…

I wish I was joking… but the British weather has hit Melbourne and it’s soaking again on the outside courts.

Can someone invent a giant umbrella to whack over the court? Delivery – ASAP.

The British No 1 closes out the third set to love and truth be told it looked like Guilio Zeppieri sort of gave that one up to preserve his energy for the fourth.

A 47-second hold of serve speaks volumes.

But it is game on now (and means a longer wait for Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu, with their matches to follow on this 1573 Arena court)

Cameron Norrie* 3-6, 6-7, 5-2 Guilio Zeppieri

Wow – two double faults in a row and that’s a gift Cameron Norrie will take again and again and again.

The British No 1 now has the chance to serve out this first set to halve the deficit.

A double fault from Zeppieri and opportunity knocks here…

Mike was one of the titans of the sport off the court and players right across the rankings have been deeply affected.

This is a poignant tribute from the great Rafa Nadal, who Mike covered so extensively during his 33 years with the Mail.

I really don’t like how much on the backfoot Norrie looks in these points.

Even on his own serve it doesn’t look quite right. The Italian just looks in control of a lot of these points.

The constant stop-start nature of this match cannot have helped Norrie, especially after his Medical Time-Out in the opening stages.

The world No 1 takes the opening set 6-4 against Danielle Collins and her roar of celebration suggests she knows very well that she is in a real battle here.

Collins has more than enough to turn this around but it’s a tough ask from here against the brick wall that is Swiatek, who had a 74% first serve percentage.

Some light applause for the Brit as he and his tennis bag return to the court. No sign of Guilio Zeppieri yet.

The 1573 Arena has just had about a 25-minute break. My concern is that while the court is dry now, there’s a menacing black cloud hanging overhead.

Can that just clear off please? Thanks, from every tennis fan everywhere.

Now, now. You CANNOT open the door like that to the world No 1.

Danielle Collins is forced to take a bit of zip off her second serve and that is all the encouragement Swiatek needs to break at 5-4, with a smart volley into the empty court leaving a dejected Collins watching on.

She will serve for the set now.

I don’t want to get carried away here but I think that might be actual sunlight flowing over the outside courts.

It also helps that the surfaces no longer look super slick and like they’ve been soaked by a hose-pipe.

Play soon? I reckon so.

Truth be told, I hadn’t been tracking this one too closely as it looked set to be a routine win for Zverev.

He took the first set 7-5 against Lukas Klein – the world No 163 – and yet it’s been disastrous for the German from that moment on.

Beaten 6-3 in the second set, he’s now down an early break in the third.

Stories like this just make me feel very single – I don’t know about you guys.

But find out which lucky charm bonds one of tennis’ power couples…

When I tell you these two are serving up an absolute treat on Rod Laver Arena I mean it.

The quality of the ball striking and the power behind them is something to behold.

Every break is going to be absolutely huge in this one with so little between them.

Safe to say, fans are less than impressed at the ball kids being made to wipe these courts down with a towel on their hands and knees.

Frankly, they’ve got a point. Surely this isn’t in the job description?!

Iga Swiatek 3-3 (40-40) *Danielle Collins

We do have match action over on Rod Laver Arena following a short delay to close the roof there.

Two titans are in action and it is going to serve right now.

I marvel every time I get to see the Swiatek backhand. What a fabulous shot from a fabulous player.

Hard to argue with that.

Umbrellas are out in the stands and hoods are up as the players head into the locker room.

That court is completely washed now and is in no state to play a match of tennis on.

Annoying – yes – but sensible heads have prevailed.

Cameron Norrie is getting annoyed now, and I don’t blame him.

Just as he launches an ace to go up 15-0 in the sixth game of the third set, play is stopped again.

But it is dangerous on court now with the amount of sudden rain and with puddles forming, there’s not a lot of choice for the chair umpire.

Let’s see how long this one lasts…

Play still suspended on some of the courts, so here is a brilliant clip of Nick Kyrgios – in the commentary booth rather than on court in this tournament – having a hilarious exchange with Novak Djokovic.

Well worth a few minutes of your time.

Zeppieri holds to get on the board.

Cameron Norrie leads 2-1 in the third.

Quick rub down of the baselines with towels from the ball-kids and we should be back up and running on the outside courts shortly.

Cameron Norrie best hope he hasn’t lost the momentum he was building.

While he wait for play to resume, let’s look at another beautiful tribute to our legendary tennis correspondent Mike Dickson.

This one comes from former BBC presenter Sue Barker, who could call Mike a friend after so many years working across tennis.

READ SUE’S TRIBUTE HERE.

OK so it’s raining, the black cloud has finally let rip and with Norrie leading 2-0 in the third and at deuce as he eyes a second break, play has been temporarily suspended due to rain.

Ball kids are hesitantly making their way off but buckle up, this is going to take a while…

It’s going to serve over on the Rod Laver Arena at 3-3 as two heavyweights of the women’s game slug it out.

I’ll keep you across that one… but don’t bet against Danielle Collins causing a shock.

Cameron Norrie comes out with an enhanced level of aggression and breaks in the opening game of the third set.

He’s got a mountain to climb still – and it’s still unlikely – but that’s how you need to start if you are going to come back from two sets down.

Now he needs to turn the screw and hold. Looks like he has the bit between his teeth now which I like a lot.

There is plenty to get our teeth stuck into but this is the current state of play.

Note: Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu’s matches follow on the same court as Norrie-Zeppieri, so if this goes five sets, we could be here a while.

Rough timings here:

Jack Draper: Faces Tommy Paul, who was a semi-finalist here last year, at around 2am.

Katie Boulter: Faces China’s Qinwen Zheng directly after Norrie, which could be as early as 2.15am.

Emma Raducanu: Will not take to the court before 3.30am – and could be even later – as she takes on China’s Wang Yafan.

Well, well, well.

British No 1 Cameron Norrie is in a real hole here, down two sets to love to world No 133 Guilio Zeppieri.

The Italian is playing lights out tennis and while he stuttered with the first of his three set points, he closed it out with an unreturnable first serve.

Two errors at the end of big rallies has Norrie shouting out in disbelief.

It really is admirable defence from Zeppieri, it really is, and he leads 5-2 in this seven-point tiebreak as he bids to go two sets up.

Giulio Zeppieri holds. Impressive resolve there.

Tie-break it is…

Well, Katie Boulter, Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu are waiting patiently for their matches to start and are, like me, keeping an eye on events between Cameron Norrie and Giulio Zeppieri.

The plucky Italian took the first set impressively 6-3 but a key break for Norrie down 5-4 has seen momentum swing to the point where he is on the cusp of another break up 6-5.

He really needs this set or it’s a mountain to climb…

The world of tennis was in mourning at news of Mike’s sudden passing.

Here are just some of the tributes that flooded in for one of the titans of the reporting room.

READ MORE HERE.

It’s important to me and to the Mail that we start this live blog off in tribute to a great man and a great reporter.

News that our legendary tennis writer – affectionately known as Mr Wimbledon – Mike Dickson had passed away over in Melbourne covering the Open this week proved devastating for all.

He was excited for these upcoming matches, charting the highs and lows of the Brits with so many in action here today.

So, this one is to you Mike. Rest easy.

Good morning one and all,

For those of us braving the early hours for Australian Open action, well played.

I’ll be here for the next several hours to keep you across all the events in Melbourne, from Cameron Norrie’s struggles against an Italian qualifier, to Katie Boulter, Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu.

Four Brits remain in singles, but how many will make round three? Let’s find out…