Emma Raducanu vs Shelby Rogers – Australian Open: Live score and game-by-game updates as former US Open champion makes return following lengthy injury after wins for Jack Draper and Katie Boulter

Look, it’s been a long morning.

A five-set epic between Mackenzie McDonald and Shang Juncheng is over, with the Chinese star winning it 6-3, 1-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

A quick refresh and Emma Raducanu will be out on court.

A forehand goes long and that’s a really poor game from Lorenzo Sonego.

Early advantage to Dan Evans, who now looks to consolidate an early break.

Dan Evans is now underway as the fourth Brit of the day goes in search of victory.

Emma Raducanu will then take to the court in the next hour.

With Court 2 still being occupied for a five-set epic, and Emma Raducanu waiting in the wings, here is some players doing their best (worrying in some cases) Australian accents…

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Katie Boulter stayed on course for a potential third round meeting with Emma Raducanu after making it through her opener at the Australian Open.

The British No 1 overcame some double fault jitters to put away China’s world No 73 Yue Yuan 7-5, 7-6, and could face top Chinese player Qinwen Zheng.

She is in a bracket very close to Raducanu, whose first round match against American Shelby Rogers was delayed until the evening, local time, because of an overrun in matches on her court.

MORE TO FOLLOW.

What a performance from the British No 1.

She wobbled on her own serve when she had the chance to serve it out at 5-4 in the second but she soon regained her composure to dominate the tie-break.

She deserved that and looks in the mood.

I said going into the match that there is optimism in her camp and with good reason.

Come on Katie…

This has been perfection so far in the tie-break from Boulter.

The British No 1 is *nearly* there (cue me ducking for cover for fear of another jinx)

Right, back to events on Court 7 and Katie Boulter HAS held her own serve.

To a tie-break we go…

Court 3 has just been freed up after Jelena Ostapenko sealed a 7-6, 6-1 win over home favourite Kim Birrell.

Expect to see Dan Evans against Lorenzo Sonego on there very, very soon.

I brought you some fuzzy friend content earlier with Andrey Rublev petting a koala… well, they are all at it!

Yuan holds with some ease and now Boulter must do the same to force a tie-break.

Couple of shouts of ‘come on Katie’ from Brits in the crowd. They know as much as she does that she does not want to find herself dragged into a third set shootout.

And my commentator curse this morning rumbles on.

Yue Yuan has been a formidable opponent and we are now right back on serve. A tie-break looks inevitable for this second set now unless Boulter can find a break of serve.

7-5, *5-4 (40-40)

OK so, Boulter has just saved a break point with a splendid down the line back-hand.

Needs to hold her nerve here.

That is potentially HUGE.

This has been a fabulous display from Katie Boulter and she now has the chance to serve her way to the second round.

Genuinely, I bloody love stories like this at the start of a Grand Slam.

Life-changing amounts of money with every win.

There is a lot to like about this Katie Boulter performance.

Against a tough and durable opponent she’s putting in mature games – and also knowing when to push and when to know the points are gone.

That was a gritty hold just now – she had to save a break point – but I’m loving the power she’s getting behind her forehand.

It looks like we’ll all be waiting a while longer yet.

The current match on Court 2 – Mackenzie McDonald versus Shang Juncheng – looks set to roll over to a fifth and deciding set.

Great match, sure, but I’ve been awake for over four hours now and would very much like to see Raducanu take to the court…

5/5 is still very much on for the Brits… Jo Durie for one is very excited.

Read the full story on Jack Draper’s five-set epic from our man on the ground in Melbourne, Mike Dickson.

FULL STORY BELOW.

If you’re just waking up – lucky you – here is what has happened so far at the Australian Open.

From a British perspective, CAM NORRIE cruised through in straight sets, while JACK DRAPER navigated a five-set epic (before throwing up into a courtside bin).

KATIE BOULTER is locked in a real battle against Yue Yuan but is a set up on Court 7.

DAN EVANS and EMMA RADUCANU are waiting in the wings for their respective matches to start.

Stepping away from Brit watch, this is a really cool story that has emerged this morning.

Sumit Nagal – History maker.

Get it all out Jack… that was tiring to watch never mind play.

The Brit is – like the rest of us – just having to stay patient.

She is waiting for Court 2 to become free and right now that is holding a showcase between Shang Juncheng and Mackenzie McDonald.

A quick hop, skip and a jump from Court 8 and we’re at Court 7 where Katie Boulter is locked in an absolute war with China’s Yue Yuan.

The Brit, clad in Nike green, has just dug out an impressive first set 7-5.

One set away from a spot in the second round now…

History made in Jack Draper’s career with that win.

‘Chunder into a bin’ is a lovely image at this time in the morning too… cheers Mike!

WHAT A MATCH.

Jack Draper has made it 2/2 Brits through so far today after an epic 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2.

That is the first five-set win of his career and his opponent Marcos Giron looks absolutely crestfallen going off court.

Draper had his blood pressure checked early in the match but he found a second wind and flew to the victory, dropping only two games across the final two sets. Wow wow wow.

Now go have a well-earned lie down, Jack…

The quality is just off the charts good.

This is how I always think I can play before I pick up a racket and… can’t.

And he holds. Phew.

Right, Jack Draper is now one game away from sealing a fabulous five-set victory here.

The Brit lets out a HUGE roar after sealing a break with a cross-court winner.

He feels this is the moment.

Can I also caveat that I don’t want any more commentator curses… seal the deal, Jack.

I remember thinking as a kid that the players were writing on – and ruining – camera lenses after every match.

Expensive business… but here is Victoria Azarenka sending a message to her son Leo after her first round win over Camila Giorgi.

It is very possible that we could see all five Brits navigate their way through to the next round today.

Evans and Raducanu are still to take to their respective courts but Jack Draper is locked in an absolute battle right now.

All on serve at 3-3 in the opening set for Katie Boulter, too.

Of course, Giron breaks right back.

Curse of the live commentator and all that. Bloody hell.

Here we go!

We’ve mentioned a couple of times already how this is brand new territory for the 22-year-old but he’s on a roll here and Marcos Giron looks unable to stop the onslaught.

Draper not counting his chickens yet though…

This is great, and says so much that many of us feel when it comes to Andy Murray.

Make it an essential read over breakfast.

OK, so here is how we stand with the four British players in action:

Jack Draper: He is currently in action and is about to start a fifth set against Marcos Giron. It’s all to play for on Court 8.

Katie Boulter: There is plenty of optimism in the Boulter camp and starting up against China’s Yue Yuan just now, both players have held serve to start us off at 1-1.

Dan Evans: Slated to get going at 6:25am (BST) against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. That’s far from a straightforward tournament opener for Evans.

Emma Raducanu: Last on the British card is Raducanu, who is making her return to Grand Slam action. The Kent youngster is due out on Court 2 at around 6:45am.

Giron has been moaning to the umpire about Drapers break earlier in the match when his blood pressure was checked.

Safe to say the American is definitely feeling the heat after getting wallopped in that fourth set.

6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-0

We have a five-setter on our hands… ooooooh.

This looked easier on paper than it has turned out to be for the Brit but he’s refusing to go away.

He’s just served up a bagel with a 6-0 fourth set. That reminds me… breakfast.

Stepping away from the live action for the briefest of seconds, this is quite a hard watch for all of us Andy Murray fans.

Speaking to Laura Robson after losing his first round match to Tomas Etcheverry – and it was a comprehensive defeat too – Murray seems almost defeated, and I hate to say that.

His voice cracking, here is what he had to say…

6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 3-0*

For those insomniacs like me that have been with us right the way through this live blog, we’ve been tracking the progress of young Jack Draper.

He dropped the second and third sets in disappointing fashion but this one is far from over.

The Brit has raced into a 3-0 lead in the fourth set and Marcos Giron looks less than comfortable now as he changes his sweat bands.

Draper has never played a full five set match but that is what he wants – and needs – right now if he is to progress.

There really is something to admire that while his rivals stress and agonise over their upcoming matches, Andrey Rublev is out holding a giant snake and petting a koala.

Rublev has got this Australian Open work-life balance down to a tee.

This is totally fair… given Raducanu was initially slated to be on at 5.15am UK time, and now it looks like it will be closer to 7.30am, it’s been a long old morning for a few of us already.

Least we’ve got Jack Draper slugging away. Fear not… (I say through bleary tired eyes)

Our man Mike Dickson is courtside for this Draper match – here is his latest dispatch:

Jack Draper has never played a full five set match before but will need to win one now if he’s going to survive. Been surprised at how well Giron has played, lots of punch from the back of the court.

That’s a body blow for the Brit after looking good level at 3-3.

But you cough up your own serve and you’ll get punished.

American Marcos Giron now a set away from the second round.

I remember live blogging Emma Raducanu’s US Open semi-final against Maria Sakkari where she made a good player look distinctly average. I was in awe (while everyone else in the house was asleep).

Course we know she followed that up by beating Leylah Fernandez, but I remember thinking then that the pressure on Raducanu to match the highest of highs was going to feel like such a burden. And so it proved.

READ HER THOUGHTS BELOW.

With the heat woe behind him, the 22-year-old – who is an absolute star in the making make no mistake about that – has now just dropped serve in the key third set to go down 4-3.

A double fault as well, what an irritating way to cough up a break.

Work to do now as Marcos Giron takes control…

Emma Raducanu is out on court right now with coach Nick Cavaday, who has done brilliant work in his role as an LTA Master Performance Coach.

It may just be the early alarm but I’m more intrigued by Raducanu’s choice of t-shirt.

What is that cartoon? Or is it contemporary art? Hmm… anyway, Raducanu looks relaxed as she warms herself up for her first round match.

For those that were fast asleep – which if you’re in the UK I’ll safely assume must have been most of you – here is how Cameron Norrie sealed his spot in the second round.

He’s a funny one to predict is Norrie. Could be great, could be out in the early rounds.

Consistency is the big problem.

Draper is back on his feet, back out on court and just rips a forehand cross-court to start the third set.

Panic over ladies and gentlemen…

Mike is right… Draper’s collapse in Miami back in March 2021 doesn’t feel so long ago.

He’s sat down on his bench right now but the TV cameras have cut away for him to get some privacy.

For now we wait.

Ok this isn’t good.

Draper is being tended to by a medic.

Our man Mike Dickson has sent this update through from courtside:

Draper has just had his blood pressure taken and gone off court, it’s about 30 here today and he has had problems in the heat before.

Our man on the ground in Melbourne, Mike Dickson, sat down with Raducanu this week to find out exactly what she’s been thinking en route to this first round match.

Safe to say that the eloquent Raducanu had plenty to say.

READ MORE HERE.

Well, British No 1 Cameron Norrie is already THROUGH safely to round two after his 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win over Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas.

But there are still plenty of Brits still to play on Day 3 of the Championships.

Here is the schedule – roughly as it stands – to mark your card:

Jack Draper: He is currently in action and is about to lose the second set to level up at 1-1. Draper is up against American player Marcos Giron on Court 8.

Katie Boulter: There is plenty of optimism in the Boulter camp and so there is excitement for her to get going, starting up against China’s Yue Yuan at about 5:25am.

Dan Evans: Slated to get going at 6:15am (BST) against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. That’s far from a straightforward tournament opener for Evans.

Emma Raducanu: Last on the British card is Raducanu, who is making her return to Grand Slam action. The Kent youngster is due out on Court 2 at around 6:45am.

Right, let’s wrap up some of the results that have already come through in Melbourne.

Former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin is OUT after losing to world No 1 Iga Swiatek (no real surprise there in her 7-6, 6-2 win).

Danielle Collins has just produced a thrilling fightback against Angelique Kerber to book her place in the second round against Swiatek.

After winning the first set 6-2, Kerber levelled things up with a 6-3 set of her own to send us to a decider. Collins then dominated to win that 6-1.

I was just worried. I started hitting in August and after that, I’d say, the first eight, nine days, I was feeling pain and then it just didn’t go away…

Safe to say that Emma Raducanu had her doubts after suffering injury after Wimbledon during the summer swing.

It’s been a really tough 12 months for Emma Raducanu, what with form going awry and then injuries taking hold.

But there is a smile back on the Brit’s face in the build-up to her tournament opener in Melbourne; a glimmer in the eye once more.

Here, Mats Wilander and Laura Robson give their expert viewpoints on Raducanu and what comes next for her…

The early bird catches the worm when it comes to the Australian Open and so for those of us waking up on UK time to see Emma Raducanu’s tournament-opening match… well played.

We’re still a few hours from the former US Open champion’s match against Shelby Rogers, but there is plenty to get stuck into between now and then.

This feels big for Raducanu. She needs a performance to not only instill belief back into her game but to give her the opportunity to find the rhythm that has made her look so good at times.