Blimey. Fernando Verdasco ratchets up the intensity, finding some extra strength from somewhere to blow Nadal off the court. The fifth seed barely sticks strings on ball, never mind getting anyway near a point as Verdasco holds to love.

Nadal looks sapped of energy as he meekly sends down a second serve that barely passes the 100mph mark. Verdasco batters a forehand down the line, teeing up a break-back point. Nadal forces deuce with a classic serve and forehand winner...

Verdasco senses another opportunity when Rafa miscues a forehand - and takes it! Although the world number 45 apologises to his opponent after his miscues a return that ends up beating Nadal to break back. 

Time for a quick changeover, both men sensibly rehydrating in the balmy Melbourne air.

The slightly-mischievous DJ in the Rod Laver Arena pumps out the Bee Gees classic 'Stayin' Alive'. Both men are doing just that in this match...

Verdasco is chuntering at the chair after a Rafa forehand dusts the whitewash to set up another break point at 40-30.

But he channels that anger positively - thundering down a hat-trick of aces to save. Brilliant.

Rafa almost started walking off court as soon as that game-winning serve left Verdasco's racquet...

Of course, these two characters are well accustomed to marathon matches in Melbourne.

Many of you may remember the last time that the Spanish pair met at the Aussie Open. 2009? Semi-final?

That went on for an epic five hours and 14 minutes before Rafa nicked it.

And the fifth seed looks to be on course to nab this one too, seeing off Verdasco in deuce by cracking a wonderful forehand down the line.

Rafa wins a pair of break points as he looks to win an early advantage in the final set. What has Verdasco got in his locker? A 135mph first serve to force deuce.

But that is as good as it gets for the 32-year-old from Madrid, two forehand errors allowing Nadal to break.

Are we going to see another big-name casualty? Quite possibly. The two Spanish senors have been out on Rod Laver Arena for over four hours now. A survival of the fittest...

You can listen to all the drama by tuning in your wireless to BBC Radio 5 live sports extra. Or Click the 'Live Coverage' tab on this page.

Thwack! Take that Rafa. Verdasco is not messing about - spanking a thunderous ace down the middle to wrap up the fourth set.

And that's means we are going into a decider...

Nadal holds his first serve...but then can't generate enough power to trouble Verdasco with the second. Nadal can't return another blistering Verdasco forehand...handing his opponent a set point...

Verdasco is playing like a man with nothing to lose, lashing at everything that comes his way. A hefty serve sees Nadal slap a backhand into the net...he's struggling now.

Is Verdasco really 32 years old? Not judging by his ballerina-style movement. That combined with his power is leaving Nadal struggling....a crashing forehand gives Verdasco another mini-break...

* denotes next serve

Verdasco is flying! The world number 45 goes a mini-break up in the first point of the tie-break, only to see that instantly wiped out. But the 32-year-old holds his second serve...as we were...

Nadal has a sniff of wrapping up the match at 30-30, but miscues a forehand and is then blasted off the court with a thumping Verdasco ace. The Melbourne crowd whoop with delight at that - never mind Hewitt, they want a fifth set....

Hello! As you might already have worked out, home favourite Lleyton Hewitt is the star attraction in the night session of day two at Melbourne Park.

But he is being made to wait. That's because Rafa Nadal is toiling against compatriot Fernando Verdasco - the battle between the two Spanish lefties on Rod Laver Arena.

Looks like we might be heading to a fifth set in that one...

Image source, Getty Images

But with age comes maturity. The flowing, surfer-style, blond locks have long since disappeared, the furious tirades spilling out of his mouth consigned to the past.

However, with age also comes creaking bones and the acceptance that time stops for no man.

Almost remarkably after that early angst, Hewitt has developed into an elder statesman of tennis - and today he plays in his 66th and final Grand Slam (and 20th Aussie Open) before retiring.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

When this brash, young Australian burst on to the tennis scene just after the turn of the millennium, there weren't many people who hadn't been rubbed up the wrong way by his outspoken, sometimes lamentable, behaviour.

Criticising Australian tennis fans, refusing to talk to the media, abusing officials...Lleyton Hewitt hardly endeared himself to many.

He was even voted the "10th most hated athlete in the world" by GQ Magazine..., external

Image source, AP

And you can follow Aljaz Bedene by clicking here and accessing our live score page.

Elsewhere at the moment Rafa Nadal and Fernando Verdasco are playing out a first-set tie-break, so keep your eyes on that one. 

If you are just joining us, Andy Murray is through, Dan Evans is out but Johanna Konta is the British player of the day surely - beating Venus Williams.

We will be back to run a live text on Lleyton Hewitt at around 08:00 GMT. The Aussie is playing in his last Grand Slam before retiring - it should be emotional.

For now though, I'll say farewell and hope to see you soon. Thank you for all your tweets.

Oh, and if you had a go of our teaser, the seven in the men's draw with Grand Slam titles are Murray, Hewitt, Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Wawrinka and Marin Cilic. Well done if you got it right.

Britain's final male contender is Aljaz Bedene, who meets American Steve Johnson.

"I know Johnson plays well," says Bedene. "He hasn't started the season that good, but he has a great serve, a great forehand. 

"But I know his weaknesses and I know that if I play well then I've got a good chance."

The pair are locked at 1-1 early on.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

Great Britain's Colin Fleming summarising on BBC Radio 5 live: "He looked very relaxed and very confident out there. It is job done and he did it in impressive style."