There are two Spanish arms being waved around in bemusement as Verdasco's errors creep back in to go 0-30.

And here's another as he attempts to skip one up on to the Djokovic backhand but it goes long.

Djokovic returns into the net and then hits long after a lovely top-spin forehand from Verdasco.

And ace to save the day as Verdasco rescues three break points and we're at deuce.

The Spaniard squanders three advantages but finally bulldozes Djokovic with a bonza serve.

He's either hit or miss this boy - there's no in between.

Image source, AP

Novak has a face of thunder as he surrenders the first two points.

But Verdasco can't get on to a serve quick enough and finds the net before Djokovic nails a point charging on to a return.

The crowd "ooohs" as it thinks a Novak baseline shot goes long - it might put off Verdasco who messes up his forehand.

And Djokovic finishes off the game.

Image source, EPA

John McEnerney: Novak was Rolls Roycesque most of last year - now he's like a Skoda!

David Melton: I'm sure most would like to see a Murray v Djokovic Final, but I'd be quite happy to see Djokovic lose early this year.

Verdasco is certainly grasping more authority in the rallies but he just can't throw down with the greatness of Djokovic, who slides towards the net and spins a winner away from the Spaniard.

Discipline slipping for Fernando as he puts everything into a fouled second serve.

Djokovic hits a first break point long and Verdasco saves the second with an outswinging ace.

Pow - another sizzling ace for advantage. Djokovic strikes back but then goes long. And what a shot this is from the Serb - it's from the tightest of angles and trims the toenails of Verdasco.

Fernando wrestles back advantage and Djokovic forehands long and will need to serve to stay in the set.

Image source, epa

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

The body language of Verdasco is definitely better right now. He's looking lively, he's jumping around, he's looking intent. Djokovic got himself out of jail there.

Which Verdasco will we get in this game I wonder?

Djokovic nets the first two points - the second after a wicked Verdasco return.

But the Spaniard ploughs one into the net - the crowd lets out a frustrated gasp.

"Aye!" he shrikes as a backhand goes all wrong and lands long for 30-30.

Djokovic mis-cues a backhand and flings around like he wasn't happy with something - so we're at deuce.

Verdasco winds up like a cartoon boxer about to throw a windmill punch - but the return is wayward and Novak holds.

Gigi Salmon
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

I still haven't a clue which way this set is going to go. They are both dumping shots and making uncharacteristic errors.

A raise of the hand from Verdasco as he clips the top of the net and it drops down to elude Djokovic.

And a bit of a temper from the champ here as he hits an error and then clobbers away a loose ball in frustration.

In the end it's an easy hold for Verdasco.

Verdasco has broken Djokovic on the Serb's last two service games. Can he make it a three-peat?

Nope.

It's a good start for the Spaniard as one sits up off the net cord and he puts it away.

A long return takes it to 15-15 but then he finds a piston of a forehand to a high bouncing ball and it's a beauty of a winner.

If Fernando can string any of this together he'd be a force.

He does so well on break point to return a serve that went right down the middle, but puts the follow-up a little wide and it's deuce.

Both players defy the laws of physics as Verdasco backhands at an impossible angle across court but Djokovic hits one right back for advantage and goes on to survive the game.

Image source, EPA

Meanwhile, over on the Margaret Court Arena, world number 15 Grigor Dimitrov has had the best of a tricky first set against Christopher O'Connell.

Dimitrov sent down seven aces but the first set went to a tie-break as O'Connell responded with some firey forehands.

O'Connell has put up a fight so far but Dimitrov has broken him early in the second set as he searches for a place in the next round.

Image source, EPA

Gigi Salmon
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

Novak Djokovic has the smallest bite of a date I have ever seen, puts it back in the box and has a sip of water.

The crowd, possibly out of pity or maybe because they want their money's worth, are getting behind Verdasco.

The pair slug it out on the baseline and Verdasco wallops a forehand to the corner and Djokovic is nowhere near it for 30-15.

Fernando is shouting something in Spanish now as he crashes one into the net. Ay caramba!

And he blows away the game by looping a backhand wide - cue more loud, Spanish shouting.

That's four successive breaks.

Image source, Getty Images

Djokovic could have his feet up with a stubby of Australian lager before he knows it here.

An ace puts him up and then he closes off a rally by swinging a cross-court forehand low and hard.

Verdasco, more out of anger than design, just hammers a backhand right through Novak for 30-30.

And it lifts the Spaniard who has Djokovic racing around and is presented with an overhead smash - which he puts away.

And look at that - Djokovic into the net for another break.

Image source, Reuters

Verdasco spent the whole time between games sat down shaking his head.

Now he's yelling up at his coach in his box as he comes back out to receive.

All that work, Fernando. All that work for nothing!

Verdasco flips back to his wayward ways as he hands Djokovic a swift 0-40 lead.

The Spaniard gets one back but propels a ball into the roof as it strikes carbon rather than strings.

Average from Fernando. And that's being polite.

He shakes his hands in frustration. You and me both matey.

Image source, Getty Images

I actually choked on my tea a bit during that game.

But that's because it was hotter than I expected, not because I was shocked by the outcome.

Eh up. Did someone switch Verdasco with another Verdasco between sets?

He has Djokovic scurrying and that forehand is in full swing now as he forces a trio of errors for two break points.

There's one gone as a forehand skips wide.

But boom - Djokovic, wobbling slightly, goes long and we have a match.

Image source, Getty Images

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

In the first set Verdasco's feet were looking sticky. Now he's dancing around, getting more forehands, and he's more likely to get that power behind them.

New set, new start here Fernando.

If he's going down he's going down swinging as he continues to search for the winners.

It puts him 30-15 up and Djokovic slips slightly and sticks a forehand into the net for 40-15.

Verdasco seems to have slotted the gears in place and strides into the net to bat away a winning backhand volley.

Fourteen unforced errors - with 12 on the forehand - from Verdasco in that set..

Nine unforced errors from Djokovic.