Image source, Getty Images

A commanding performance from Murray in the opening set, though his opponent did produce more winners - seven compared with the Scot's five. But the unforced error count told the tale of the first set, with nine coming from Soeda's racquet and only two from Murray's.

Murray untroubled on his own serve in the opening game of the second set and Soeda has gone underground. He thumps a forehand into the net and it's a drama-free hold for Murray.

Two backhand winners from Murray sees the Scot jump from 30-15 to 30-40 and Soeda loses his nerve, throwing in a double fault at set point. Murray with the first set in the bag after just 23 minutes.

Latest men's scores from day two in Melbourne

Men's results

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Women's first-round results

Dominic Inglot
British doubles player on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Andy will be loving this progress and will be out of here quickly at this rate. It's good to see and he looks full of confidence."

Listen to commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra (UK only)

Murray has not needed to hit too many winners because his opponent is making so many mistakes but a backhand winner moves the Scot to 30-15, though Soeda drags himself level with a backhand down the line which kisses the baseline. Murray targeting the Soeda and then quickly attacks with a walloping forehand winner. A Soeda forehand goes long and it's another comfortable hold for the Scot.

The match is being played from the baseline and more often than not Murray is coming out on top. The Scot stepping in early on the returns and an under pressure Soeda is whacking the ball into the tramlines. The 29-year-old finds the tramlines after Murray pounces on his second serve. Two break points for the Scot. Soeda's backhand then drifts into the net and Murray is in control.

For those of you who have done your homework then you will already know Soeda is ranked 112 in the world and has lost in the first round in nine of his 12 previous Grand Slam appearances. The odds, then, were against him even before this match started. Soeda balloons a forehand into the tramlines, allowing Murray to move to within a point of holding, and an ace to the wings finishes off a 40-30 game.

It's perhaps too early to gauge how Murray's back is holding up, but the Wimbledon champion is moving along the baseline with ease and his retrieving skills from the back of the court earns him three break points. Soeda saves one, but on the next point Murray patiently waits for his opponent to make an error, which he does by going long.

Dominic Inglot
British doubles player on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"It is like sitting in a sauna and having a hair-dryer blowing in your face. A little bit of shade can help you. Andy has been training in Miami so hopefully the humidity there will help him cope here.

"He doesn't want to be out here too long in this heat but at the same time he wants to be out long enough to get his rhythm going."

Listen to commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra (UK only)

For those of you who like to talk about omens and whatnot, then you'll perhaps be pleased to learn that Murray has never lost a set against a Japanese opponent.

The rallies have been kept short so far in this match, which is sensible in such conditions - though most of the court is now covered in shade. A backhand long from Soeda allows Murray to skip to 40-15 and a faulty return later ensures the Briton holds.

A perfect start for the 29-year-old Soeda who opens and finishes his game with aces, leaving Murray with little chance to pose any problems with his returns.

The warm-up is done and dusted so play is under way. Let's have some fun.

Indeed, the heat has got to some down under. Apparently China's Peng Shuai was vomiting on Court 8 so ferocious was the heat, while a ball boy collapsed during Milos Raonic's match with Daniel Gimeno-Traver. Perhaps the tournament should relocate to Salford.

Image source, Reuters

Murray, of course, has spent the winter training in the Miami sunshine, but as the Briton has pointed out the difference between a glorious 32C in Florida and a 42C Melbourne heatwave is "huge".

"It feels very different on the court," he said during the build-up to this match. "The court just gets so hot.

"The air is extremely, extremely hot as well. In Miami there tends to be a breeze; here when it's 40 degrees it can be calm. The air feels warm in your face. Your legs and your feet burn. It's very tough."

Go Soeda and Andy Murray make their entrances and it will come as no surprise that the loudest cheer was reserved for the latter. Unfortunately for the pair, they are playing in sizzling conditions.

"Based on the nearest official weather station, the temperature did hit 43C earlier (5am UK time)," says BBC Weather's Simon King. "The temperature will stay around the 41C/42C mark for next hour or two and then start to lower during Murray's match."

Agnieszka Radwanska's 6-0 5-7 6-2 victory over Yulia Putintseva means Andy Murray will soon be on Hisense to face Japan's Go Soeda.

You can listen to live commentary on Tennis Breakfast which is on air now on BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra, online and mobile devices. But, you know, you can listen and read simultaneously because there's, erm, live text commentary, too.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

"It has been a bizarre six hours since play started, with the temperature rising from an initial 36C to its current level of a solid 41C. The lack of humidity means tournament officials feel it is playable, but we have seen ball boys and players fainting and vomiting, and a rising number of retirements.

"Victoria Azarenka described it as feeling 'like dancing on a frying pan', while Caroline Wozniacki said her water bottle began to melt. The Extreme Heat Policy remains unimplemented, however, so Andy Murray and Go Soeda are likely to face the hottest temperatures of the day when they start on Hisense Arena, with the retractable roof and air-conditioning system unused."

Image source, Reuters

In the women's draw, defending champion Victoria Azarenka overcame Johanna Larsson 7-6 6-2 and former world number one Caroline Wozniacki is also safely through. The Dane got the better of Lourdes Dominguez 6-0 6-2 in 66 minutes.

Agnieszka Radwanska and Jelena Jankovic have also reached the second round.

Women's singles latest scores

Women's first-round results

Image source, Getty Images

If you've been snoozing through the night, and I wouldn't blame you for doing so, let me tell you that Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga have battled through the sizzling heat to reach the second round.

Federer remains on course for a fifth Australian Open after a 6-4 6-4 6-2 win over Australian James Duckworth, while Tsonga beat Filippo Volandri 7-5 6-3 6-3.

Latest men's scores from day two in Melbourne

Men's results

Should tournament referee Wayne McKewen be forced to invoke the extreme heat policy he will suspend play on outside courts and close the roofs over the Rod Laver and Hinsense Arenas and whack on the air conditioning.

In women's singles and junior singles matches, there is provision for a 10-minute break between the second and third sets.

Image source, Getty Images

The risk to players' health in this extreme heat is low, according to the tournament's chief medical officer Tim Wood.

"A lot of people get hot and look distressed and hot and bothered. The actual risk to the health is relatively small compared with other sports," said Wood.

The temperature has hit 43C in Melbourne today - that's over 100 degrees in old money. But play continues despite the savage conditions.

'Madness' some of you might mutter while preparing to tuck into a steaming hot porridge, but it's all about the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature,, external you see.

Image source, Getty Images

The heat policy is based on The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, which is pretty easy to understand, really, and it's something I've been wanting to write about for a while.

It follows the straightforward formula of 'W BGT = 0.7T + 0.2T + 0.1T' and takes into account temperature and other factors such as wind and humidity, and helps explain why they're still playing in Melbourne Park.