David Law
Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

I don't understand the tactics Raonic is employing right now - I'm not sure if it's a lack of confidence. He's a very good player from the back of the court. He can be great if he uses his physical presence to get to the net more.

Milos Raonic takes the opening point after technology rules against Dominic Thiem. Both men are glued to the baseline, Raonic refusing to step in like we saw him do so often at Wimbledon. 

Thiem roars back to 40-15, but then judders towards the finish line. A ripper of a double-handed backhand by the waiting Raonic takes us into deuce...

Sealed with an ace. In fact, a pair of them. Milos Raonic refuses to give Dominic Thiem any change at the business end of this opening set. We're hurtling towards Tie-break Town - unless Thiem blows a gasket with his next service game...

Image source, Reuters

On we go. Starts well for Thiem who goes 30-0 ahead, then a couple of unforced errors let Raonic sneak in like a cat burglar. Let's see if Thiem can chase him off. He does. He survives a gutsy rally on his second serve for 40-30, Raonic getting his angles all wrong with a backhand that goes well wide.

Seems Milos Raonic has taken heed of Carlos Bernardes's words of warning. The big Canadian rattles through his fifth service game, Thiem struggling to introduce strings to ball. Now the Austrian serves to stay in the set...

Leon Smith
Great Britain Davis Cup captain on Radio 5 live sports extra

The fact that the great champions of the past have returned to the sport as coaches has added so much to the sport, in terms of interest, skill levels and media attention. At one point during Queen's, I saw Becker, McEnroe and Cash all having a chinwag together.

Anyone else think Dominic Thiem looks a teeny-weeny bit like New Zealand cricketer Trent Boult?

No?...

Image source, Rex/Getty

David Law
Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

I wonder if the line judges draw lots to decide who stands down the centre on the receiving end of Milos Raonic's serve. Some of these serves today have hit 141mph. Even Thiem has struggled to get his body out of the way of them.

Eight games, eight holds. Fascinating contest. But Dominic Thiem almost contrives to score an own goal. The Austrian races into a 40-0 advantage then presses self-destruct as Raonic forces deuce. Composure returns, however, and he wins the next two points to ensure parity remains.

Image source, Reuters

A bit of chat between Milos Raonic and umpire Carlos Bernardes at the changeover. The Canadian is told to keep an eye on the clock during his service games. Novak Djokovic got a time violation earlier today. He was not happy. 

Bernardes goes for the quiet-word-in-the-ear approach rather than dishing out a detention.

David Law
Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

Raonic seems irritated that these serves are coming back.

Raonic has not got that crunching forehand of his firing yet. Another wayward shot gives Thiem a sniff at 30-30, before another sizzler of an ace whizzes past Thiem's eye line. A bit of tightness creeps in, the Canadian double faulting as we go into deuce.

Is this a chance for Thiem? Nope. Raonic whips the chance from under his nose, a 117mph second serve doesn't come back, and neither does his next delivery.

Image source, Reuters

Leon Smith
Great Britain Davis Cup captain on Radio 5 live sports extra

Both players are trying to play the match on their terms. Raonic is struggling to deal with Thiem's serve at the moment.

Now there's a glitch in the Thiem serve. It malfunctions for the first time, a double fault hauling Raonic level at 30-30. 

The pair bust each other up in a baseline rally, until Thiem takes the point by the scruff of the neck. A crashing forehand down the deuce side is followed by another beautifully-constructed point. And that's another hold.

David Law
Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

You can hear the crowd getting behind Thiem. They sense he's the underdog and he's going to have to work hard to stay with his opponent who has not lost a single point on his serve yet. They want a good contest to watch tonight.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport in London

The fashion in tennis is for leading players to travel with a full support team of coaches, physios, agents, astrologers... whatever they deem necessary. Raonic has certainly got on board with the multiple coach idea.

Riccardo Piatti was first joined by former French Open champion Carlos Moya, and John McEnroe then joined the party at Queen's Club for the grass-court season. Well, Mac is back, for now at least, squeezed in alongside Piatti and Moya in the courtside seats.

'Hit lots of aces' would seem to be a good starting point when coaching Raonic.

I bet Milos Raonic is a decent poker player. His expression wouldn't be changed by an 80mph gust. Nor would his plastic-looking hair. Which, I've just been informed, has its own Twitter account. What a world.

Anyway... Raonic's service game is being tested for the first time. At 30-30, Thiem loses a Hawkeye war and then Raonic drills down a 140mph ace in the replayed point to add insult to injury. 

Better from Thiem on his opponent's thunderous serve.

David Law
Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

I'll be interested to see where Thiem stands for the return. Wawrinka started on the baseline last night against Cilic, but ended up halfway between the baseline and the line judges as the match progressed.

Let's not forget Dominic Thiem is not shy in spanking down a thunderbolt or two. The Austrian is nailing his first serves in these opening exchanges, leaving Raonic wafting at thin air. Raonic is not going quietly at 30-30, until a Thiem ace sets up the hold. As you were...

Image source, Reuters

Yikes! Raonic winds up those cannon-like arms, firing the ball down the opposite end at 140mph. That's ace numero dos for the Wimbledon finalist, rattling off three more big serves that Thiem cannot return. Another hold to love for the big man. Johnny Mac almost breaks into an early smile. Almost.

Image source, Reuters