Some things never change. The Sharapova serve was a little unpredictable last year and once more it's spluttering, with the world number three coughing up a fifth double fault of the match to give Mattek-Sands a sniff at 30-30. A net cord then favours Mattek-Sands for break point but the American finds the tramlines to give the Russian a reprieve at deuce and from then on the match quickly races away from the underdog, who slaps her thigh at the frustration of it all.

Alistair Bruce-Ball
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

Gilles Simon signs autographs after his 16-14 win in the final set against Daniel Brands, the set lasted 1 hour 55 minutes.

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A bit of brouhaha in the stands as someone dressed as the Pope is ejected from the Arena, much to the displeasure of 15,000 fans who were enjoying being entertained by that gentleman and the rest of his dressed-up gang. When does it become too hot for japes?

A double fault takes the game to deuce but on the next point the American sends down a loose-limbed forehand winner for advantage. However, when Mattek-Sands misses she does so by some distance, looking wild and a little out of her depth. She drags a forehand into the tramlines but responds with two aces. Rat-a-tat-tat. How's about that? The American not out of this set yet.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

"If the Nadal knee is the most famous injury in men's tennis, the Sharapova shoulder is the female equivalent. The Russian has struggled with it over the last few years and is only now making her way back after a prolonged break.

"While her groundstrokes have always remained among the best in the game, her serve has at times been disastrous. Serena Williams, in particular, has enjoyed teeing off against it on the return. Sharapova's double fault and second-serve win percentage tonight will give an indication of how the shoulder is feeling."

Errors creeping into Sharapova's game - a wayward forehand gifting Mattek-Sands a break point - but can the American maintain her composure to take advantage? Nope. Spectators can be seen fluttering pieces of paper to generate some sort of breeze but, in truth, it's the players who are blowing hot and cold. From deuce to advantage and back again twice more we go, with Sharapova throwing in a double fault in the process, before Mattek-Sands collects a second break point. Can she grab her chance? Yes! Backhand long from Sharapova.

The marathon five-setter out on Court Seven has finally reached its end with 18th seed Gilles Simon coming out the winner 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 3-6 6-3 16-14 against Germany's Daniel Brand. The final set took a whopping 114 minutes - Andy Murray's match only took 13 minutes longer - and Brand actually hit more winners in the match - 111 to 75 - and won more points - 231 to 230. But it's the Frenchman who advances to the second round.

Mattek-Sands looks as if she will set off into the sunset in a Harley Davidson after this match. Her purple hair, tattooed bicep, long black socks and matching wrist bands immediately endears her to many supporters. But the American currently motoring at mobility scooter pace, although she does save one break point. A tame forehand into the net gives Sharapova a second break point and the Russian pushes her opponent onto her heels before unleashing a forehand winner into the opposite corner.

David Law
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

"Maria Sharapova has definitely got another Grand Slam title in her as long as she doesn't come up against Serena Williams. She just can't beat her. Mattek-Sands has got to get the crowd on her side and make them believe that she can win. She also needs to send a statement to Sharapova that she here's to compete."

Image source, Getty Images

Mattek-Sands quick off the blocks to whip a delightful backhand crosscourt volley for a 0-30 lead and she celebrates with a clench of the fist. Sharapova wisely steps in from the baseline, breaking her opponent's resistance with a forehand into the corner. And another forehand winner drags her to 30-30.

A double fault - Sharapova's second of the match - presents Mattek-Sands with a break point but the 28-year-old overcooks a forehand and we're at deuce. The pair toil from deuce and advantage until Sharapova finally serves out the game.

Mattek-Sands biffs a forehand long, presenting Sharapova with a break point and the American needs to be a touch more patient. She's loose and wild with a forehand on the next point and the Russian is ahead without having to do much at all.

For those of you interested in such things Maria Sharapova is wearing a matching dress and visor, though there's some debate over the colour of her ensemble. For me, the outfit is in duck egg but on the wireless they're saying the Russian is in mint green. I guess it doesn't really matter, but it could be an important bit of information for some of you. An uninspiring first game to start the match. A forehand into the tramlines from Mattek-Sands, followed by another wayward return and Sharapova holds to 15.

Anyway, it's time to concentrate on what is happening on Rod Laver Arena because the warm-up is over and Maria Sharapova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands are about to start their first-round ding-dong.

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The International Tennis Federation has tweeted that there have been nine retirements in the first round so far (eight men and a female), equalling the Open Era Grand Slam record in a round which was set at the 2011 US Open.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands emerges onto Rod Laver in knee-length black socks, which is an interesting look. She's also sporting a purple ponytail today. The American has her earphones plugged in as she walks towards her chair so the crowd might as well remain silent as she won't be able to hear a thing.

Spare a thought for Gilles Simon and Daniel Brands who are slugging it out on Court Seven. It's 12-12 in the fifth set. Nearly four hours have ticked by since the start of that match. Spare a thought for whoever will have to put their stinky kit in the washing machine...

Latest men's scores from day two in Melbourne

Men's results

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Women's first-round results

Dr Tim Wood, the tournament's chief medical officer, has also responded to criticism about the extreme playing conditions.

"The majority of matches today were completed without any court calls from the medical team," he said. "Of course there were a few players who experienced heat related illness or discomfort, but none required significant medical intervention after they had completed their match.

"Most of the matches today didn't go for much longer than a couple of hours and generally the playing group coped extremely well."

Andy Murray said earlier that he's concerned "something bad could happen to one of the players" if matches at the Australian Open aren't suspended because of extreme heat.

But, in a statement, referee Wayne McKewen said: "While conditions were hot and uncomfortable, the relatively low level of humidity ensured that conditions never deteriorated to a point where it was necessary to invoke the extreme heat policy. Stages one and two of the heat policy were implemented."

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

"Yep, it doesn't come as a great surprise when Tomic approaches Nadal and then the umpire before retiring. Boos ring around the Rod Laver Arena as the most hyped match of the first round falls flat - even the Fanatics are momentarily silent. Nadal does his best to change the atmosphere by taking his shirt off, but the accompanying wolf whistles turn to jeers when Tomic picks up his bag and heads for the exit. This was a night when he could have won his home crowd over but it's not to be."

"The first goal of last year was finish the year," adds Nadal. "I finished the year playing one of the best seasons of my career. Some pains but nothing really bad so I am able to start again this year and that's the best news possible."

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"I'm very sorry for Bernard, I hope he gets better soon," says Rafael Nadal during his on-court interview. "I know how tough this situation is. All the best for him for the rest of the year."