Federer with an ace down the middle, that's his fourth to Djokovic's nine. Djokovic with some penetrating groundstrokes to make it 30-30 but Federer counters with another ace. That's a hold, Federer has left the ropes behind and is holding the centre of the ring.

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent in Melbourne

"What a thrill that third set was. Federer will need to give huge thanks to the crowd if he somehow wins this match because the reception he got at the start of the set was amazing."

Image source, Getty Images

Jacob Barr: Daring to dream, come on Federer you beautiful, beautiful man.

Ross Grainger: Following Federer/Djokovic while studying 'Macbeth'. As the tyrant says: "I'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked."

They are back at it on a now covered Rod Laver Arena... and it's Federer who is fastest out of the reset blocks, racing into a 0-30 lead. Djokovic finds a good second serve for 15-30 and another for 30-30. Djokovic's first serve has suddenly gone awry but again Federer can only net with his return. Both men have momentarily rusted up, but it's a Djokovic hold.

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on Radio 5 live sports extra

Image source, AP

"Champions learn to let go of previous sets and start again. You are never safe with Federer. Djokovic knows he's got to pump it up again because he's got a fight on his hands."

Rachel McKie: Can't tear my eyes away from #bbctennis, external live updates. What a match! Work will have to wait.

Jack Filose: Said it before and will say it again. The day @rogerfederer, external retires will be one of the saddest in the history of sport. Warrior!

It tells you what a great, great player Federer is that one moment we're lauding Djokovic's performance as perhaps the greatest of all time, the next Federer is nicking a set off him. Federer has gone for what, in the sanitised world of modern sport, is called a 'comfort break', but back in the real world is called a visit to the toilet. And tracksuits are on, the roof is coming over, there must be a storm brewing...

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on Radio 5 live sports extra

"There were a couple of shots that really worked the crowd into a frenzy. People talk about whether Federer has lost a yard of pace but he's as fast as he's ever been. That cross-court pick-up was phenomenal, just to get there, let alone make it."

... we're back to deuce. Another meaty first serve from Federer to nick back the advantage, before Djokovic goes long with a forehand return. Federer is alive and kicking...

David Law
Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

Image source, Getty Images

"Federer has been knocked from pillar to post but he's on his way back. The crowd are going to go bananas if he gets this set."

My apologies, I've been showing the score wrong for a while, the second set was 6-2 to Djokovic, not 6-1. Djokovic with a flipped backhand winner that skims the baseline - Federer challenges, but it was somewhat forlorn - but he goes long this time to hand his rival set point. Djokovic saves, hitting the line again with a cross-court forehand, before Federer picks him off with a dipping forehand down the line. Ace down the middle, we have a fourth set... nope, Djokovic challenges, and it was out...

That third set turned on its head almost imperceptibly - one minute Federer was curled up into a ball getting pummelled in the corner, the next he had Djokovic by the throat. But I missed the bit in between. Lovely swept backhand winner by Federer before Djokovic wins a challenge by the skin of his teeth for 40-15. Federer nets, he'll have to serve out for the third set. 

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on Radio 5 live sports extra

Image source, Reuters

"Who would have thought this 15 minutes ago?"

Image source, EPA

Federer seems to have hit his straps all of a sudden, here he is with a forehand winner down the line. He follows up with an errant forehand for 15-30 before arcing a third ace down the middle for 30-30. Federer anticipates the cross-court backhand from Djokovic and puts away a forehand down the line, and somehow - I'm not sure how - Federer is one game away from winning the third set.

Matt: Everyone's so busy saying how great Djoker's demolition of Fed is that they haven't mentioned how awesome Fed's comeback will be.

John Maclennan: Fed just wanted to give him a two-set head start.

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on Radio 5 live sports extra

"You can feel the tide turning in this set. Djopkovic has dropped off a little bit and Federer is hitting harder. Djokovic is a bit tentative and just trying to get the ball back in."

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on Radio 5 live sports extra

"That's the first time I've heard Djokovic grunt in this match. That shows the tension is getting to him now."

Djokovic with his first double - open a window, to hear if the birds are still singing. Federer has break points! Two of them. Wonderful work at the net by Federer and he eventually wins the point with a backhand volley. But then like my dreams, those two break points fade and die. However, Djokovic sprays an attempted backhand pass wide for another break point but this time Federer goes long with a forehand... deuce again...

... more industrial-strength hitting from Djokovic, Federer must have wrists like a navvy, but he eventually buckles under the strain. But this is cute as a button from Federer, a sliced drop-volley to make it deuce again, before Djokovic sends down his seventh ace... Federer makes it deuce again, before Djokovic heaves down another ace... backhand winner from Federer for deuce again...

And what a point that was from Federer - Djokovic looks to have it won with a gossamer drop-shot but Federer somehow sniffs if out and beats his rival with an angled forehand. Magical, just magical. And now we have a break. The crowd rises as one - Federer's alive and well!

Danny Morgan: How is it possible that Djokovic seems to be even better than he was last year? Frightening for the rest of men's field.

Rehan Kemal: Even if Djok's performance today is the best ever, Fed at his peak will never be surpassed as the greatest player in history