Wawrinka leaves the court before the start of the third set for a toilet break. When nature calls, a man's got to do what a man's got to do. The defending champion does what he does quickly, though, and we're ready to rock.

What has Djokovic got up his sleeve? Will he go on the attack to stop Wawrinka bullying him from the baseline? At 30-30 the Serb is struggling and a tired backhand fails to sail over the net, gift wrapping a break point for Wawrinka in expensive paper and a pretty ribbon. Here we go. Wawrinka preparing to open his present. He steps in from the baseline... Djokovic is on his heels... Wawrinka has acres of the court to aim at but, oof, he fires a backhand into the tramlines. Deuce.

Another chance for Wawrinka, he thinks he's earned a second break point thanks to a crackerjack of a forehand but Djokovic challenges and HawkEye proves there's nothing wrong with the Serb's eyesight.

Advantage. Deuce. Advantage. A magical forehand winner from Wawrinka in between all the excitement and an iffy Djokovic challenge. A marathon of a game which ends in Djokovic's favour when Wawrinka slaps a forehand into the net. And breathe.

Leon Smith
GB Davis Cup captain

"Stan Wawrinka is feeling good about himself now. He is taking the ball early and is timing his shots very well. Everyone can settle in now for a tennis match. It's one set each and I'm sure the standard will go up as the players settle into the rhythm.

"We're one hour, 20 minutes into the match and it's time for the players to settle down, play to their strengths and see who can come out on top."

Image source, AFP

Wawrinka cruising on a street named easy at 30-0 and he's dominating his opponent. Djokovic retrieving, but never seems in a position to turn defence into attack and the steely-eyed Swiss thunders an overhead beyond his opponent to skip to a 40-0 lead. The Swiss cleans up thanks to a rasping serve and this match is bubbling up nicely. We should have a tasty main course ready for the third set. By the way, that's the first set Djokovic has dropped in this tournament.

Leon Smith
GB Davis Cup captain

"We're seeing glimpses of some of the tennis we are hoping to see, but it has been more about who is making errors. Novak Djokovic is definitely out of sorts and is not playing as well as he has done before.

"He played Raonic before so he should be used to the ball coming through quickly, but he has not got the same depth to his shots today."

There is such a thing as too much power. Wawrinka overcooks a forehand and any hope he had of breaking Djokovic again in this set is gone, gone, gone. Djokovic with a straightforward hold.

Marc McPherson:, external Djoko and Wawrinka are going to five sets. You know it, I know it.

Paul Collins:, external Djokovic won the Australian open before with combined 10 hours 43 minutes playing time in just the semi and final. Murray needs Stan to win.

We haven't heard much from Wawrinka since he turned the air blue at the beginning of the first set, but the Swiss yells "come on" as he goes 40-15 up with Djokovic going long. Djokovic proving that he could be a craftsman of note with a deft backhand volley to rein Wawrinka in to 40-30. The Serb questioning Wawrinka's nerve and the Swiss butchers a forehand. From 40-15 to deuce. Blimey. The defending champion comes swaggering through the minor blip, though, with the Djokovic backhand breaking down, and now the Serb must serve to stay in the set.

Paul Collins:, external Djokovic is "average" apparently and wins the set, Murray drops only slightly off best against Berdych and loses the set.

Alex Allison:, external Would love an Isner v Mahut to tire these guys out.

Gordon Taylor:, external I don't mind who plays Andy Murray in the final. They way he is playing he can beat anyone on his day.

Image source, Getty Images

Djokovic groaning, such is the power he unleashes on a venomous forehand winner for a 30-0 lead. It's best to keep your distance from fluffy yellow balls travelling at such speed. Decibels rise inside the arena, though, as Djokovic sprints towards the net but is beaten as Wawrinka beautifully threads a single-handed backhand down the line. 30-30. Eyebrows being raised. Will he? Could he? Break point Wawrinka! Djokovic gambling like a high roller at a Las Vegas casino on the second serve and it doesn't pay off. A double fault and the world number one meekly surrenders.

At 15-15, these behemoths of the game become embroiled in a lengthy rally. Djokovic probing the Wawrinka backhand, but finding no weakness... Wawrinka bosses the point from the back of the court and brings an end to some enjoyable shenanigans by crunching a forehand into the corner. The Serb creeping back into contention at 40-30 with an inch-perfect return, but, on the next point, Djokovic is unable to laser another return over the barrier and Wawrinka nips ahead.

Brilliant from Djokovic as he approaches the net and puts away a volley with a feather-soft touch. The camera goes in search of coach Boris Becker, who is nodding in approval and probably saying to himself: 'That's my boy'. The Serb untroubled, comfortably holding to love again.

Image source, AFP

Image source, EPA

Wawrinka bounces the ball on the service line, tosses it up towards the Melbourne sky, arches his back and that ball is only going in One Direction (see picture), straight down the middle of the 'T' for a peach of an ace. No tales of comebacks or mishaps in this game, with Wawrinka holding to love. The match has yet to burst into glorious Technicolor. Not that it's being played in black and white, but in this HD age we had expected a greater array of colourful shots.

It's been well-documented that the Djokovic serve has improved since Boris Becker was added to his coaching staff. His howitzers now have more zip, and Wawrinka is currently unable to read the boomers which are being launched in his direction. The Swiss spraying his returns here, there and everywhere, like an out-of-control hosepipe, and Djokovic holds to love with ease. Peasy.

Leon Smith
GB Davis Cup captain

"Stan Wawrinka needs to find some rhythm. He was in a good position in the first set and gave away his lead, but both players will be disappointed in terms of how they are hitting the ball. Novak Djokovic will be relieved taking that first set but he has not played anywhere near his best tennis.

"They are two experienced players and they still get nervous. They are playing in a big arena and the pressure is big. They both succumbed to nerves in the first set."

Image source, BBC Sport

For those of you who like facts - victory against Wawrinka would be Djokovic's 49th at the Australian Open and would see him leap above Andre Agassi on the all-time list of most Australian Open match victories in the Open Era. Who's top? Roger Federer. Head and shoulders above the rest.

On Rod Laver Arena, Wawrinka coughs up a double fault, his first of the match, and Djokovic finds himself 0-30 to the good. Wawrinka steals one point back, but a baseline slug-fest ends in Djokovic's favour and the Serb has two break points. He wastes both and, at deuce, Wawrinka is swimming in calmer waters. Deuce. Advantage. Deuce. An opportunity missed for Djokovic as the Swiss holds.

Leon Smith
GB Davis Cup captain

"In Andy Murray's previous outings to the final, he has been the one with only one day's grace, but mentally it will be good knowing Djokovic and Wawrinka will be battling it out, while he can rest.

"But it should be fair. Everyone should get the same amount of time to rest. There's too much at stake for someone to play a four or five-hour match in the semi-final before a final, while their opponent may have won in straight sets and had an extra day off."

David McQueen:, external Novak looking average. If he plays like this Murray will beat him - for the third slam final in a row.

Jamie Holmes:, external Djokovic v Wawrinka to go the distance anyone?

Wawrinka's feet not moving in unison and he slaps a simple-looking forehand from the baseline into the tape, presenting Djokovic with three set points. The world number one needs just the one, Wawrinka's radar malfunctioning again. A disappointing tie-break after a set which promised there was more excitement to come.

Image source, AFP