Is defending champion Novak Djokovic a worthy favourite to defend his Australian Open title? Who are the dangers? Who are the dark horses?

Djokovic is a 6-4 chance with British bookmakers, with Andy Murray the 15-8 second favourite. Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal come next at 16-1.

Can anyone get past the top two? Have your say using #bbctennis., external

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Thanks for that lovely introduction, Novak.

If you do as the 12-time Grand Slam champion says and stick around. you should be in for a fizz-banger of a contest.

The defending champ takes on Fernando Verdasco in the first round - and the Spaniard is no pushover.

The world number 40 took Djokovic to three sets - and had five match points - in their Qatar Open semi-final just a couple of weeks ago and has beaten the Serb four times out of 13 meetings.

That's a 31% win rate - which must stand up pretty well against the rest of the locker room.

The pair go at it after 08:00 GMT.

Image source, Getty Images

"Oh, hi. I'm Novak Djokovic. You've caught me just hanging out in the Melbourne sunshine with my Australian Open trophy. I've won six of them don'tcha know?

"Anyway, that's enough about me.  

"Why don't you stick around and enjoy live radio and written commentary as I start off my championship defence?"

It''s been a fine morning for the Brits, with Johanna Konta, Heather Watson and Kyle Edmund all safely through to the next round, but with that we're going to leave you until the second session gets under way.

There's plenty to look forward to, with world number two Novak Djokovic's first-roundmatch against Fernando Verdasco the pick of the bunch.

There's more British interest too, as Naomi Broady facesAustralia's Daria Gavrilova.

Don't forget, you can continue to listen to BBC Radio 5 live's coverage via the link above.

And if you'd like to read about those matches, you can do so here:

Report: Konta, Watson and Edmund through

Report: Serena Williams starts record bid with easy win

Report: Rafael Nadal crusies through

Schedule: Djokovic, Dimitrov, Radwanska and Broady to come

Day two: Latest scores and full results

Image source, Reuters

I'm sure you've all been up following us throughout the night in the UK, but just in case you drifted off here's a quick recap of what you might have missed...

British number one Johanna Konta was first on court and progressed with an assured 7-5 6-2 first-round win over Kirsten Flipkens.

Second seed Serena Williams looks in fine form as she targets a 23rd Grand Slam singles title, and the American saw off Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic.

Third seed Milos Raonic is the highest-ranked player in the men's draw to progress today, he enjoyed a straight-set win over Germany's Dustin Brown.

Ninth seed Rafael Nadal, who won in Melbourne in 2009, beat Germany's Florian Mayer in straight sets.

Here's British number two Kyle Edmund reacting to his win over Santiago Giraldo earlier: "My focus was on the match but it is hot and very different to what we practiced in.

"I heard it goes back to mid-20s (the temperature) so today was important to come through. I was pleased with how I managed my match. I took control, so it’s pleasing.

"Last year was a very different scenario, so it was nice to concentrate on my tennis and let my body take care of me."

Britain's Heather Watson after progressing to the second round: "I'm very pleased with today. Sam's a great player - she's beaten me both times before. I felt I prepared really well and felt fit in that third set. 

"There were some very long games and I had a slow start in both of the first two sets - in the third I wanted to make her work.

Asked about the heat in Melbourne: "I train in Florida most of the time. I actually thought it was pretty cool here for Australia."

Jill Craybas
Former world number 39 on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Heather deserved to win that. She gutted out the first game in the third set. There were three games that could have gone either way and she just handled those moments better.

Good response from Stosur, she springs into life with a couple of huge forehands but hasn't had the consistency to trouble Watson throughout with those.

The least she'll want to do is avoid being bageled in this final set, but it's Watson who has match point...

Sam Stosur, a former US Open champion, has struggled in front of the Melbourne crowd today - especially in this final set.

Heather Watson looks to have the reading of her serve, and goes 15-30 up.

That's a second double fault in this game from Watson. She could do with closing this game out. 

She takes the advantage when Stosur can only direct a return in the net and another powerful serve gets the same response - that's five games in a row for the Brit.

Watson works Stosur around the court, luring her into the net before delicately lobbing the ball beyond the advancing Australian. Great stuff.

She follows that with a double fault.

Heather Watson looked to be in trouble when she dabbed a forehand at Sam Stosur's serve, but the Australian can't pick off the Brit and Watson responds with a superb backhand pass.

She has another break point, too. I've lost count of how many that is in this one game alone, what matters is she's finally taken it - and with the break, surely a spot in the second round?

This match is approaching the two-hour mark.

To be honest it feels like most of that has been played trying to decide this game. Heather Watson is having a debate with the umpire now as to whether her shot was in - it was called a let after a miscall from the line judge.

"She missed the ball before he called it?" says Watson, but the umpire disagrees.

Little back lift, lots of power. That's a cracking backhand from Heather Watson as she picks it up from around her feet to sweep it past Sam Stosur and earn yet another break point.

But every time Watson thinks she's closing in on a break, Stosur ups her game. We're back at deuce - again.

Well, as soon as Sam Stosur thinks she's salvaged the game she finds herself defending another break point.

But again Heather Watson can't convert. This has shades of that 11-minute game in the second set about it. Pivotal? It'd be a huge step towards the second round for Watson if she wins this one.

And after starting the game so strongly, Stosur has completely collapsed and it's Watson with another break point.

That's a fantastic winner though from the Australian to hold for the moment, she cuts across the face of the ball to send a forehand spinning out of Watson's reach for deuce.