Nice from Johanna Konta, wrongfooting the American and then just toying with her opponent by moving the ball side to side before picking a sweet spot down the centre of the court.

And it's a superb crosscourt forehand winner to finish. That's more like it.

Konta pulls back to 30-30, but a fiery serve and equally punchy forehand on the next point do for Pera as she holds.

That sounded like a heavy goods train cruising by as the court falls quiet awaiting Bernarda Pera's serve.

The American steams into a 40-0 lead - no, a good challenge from Johanna Konta, as a long forehand clips the white of the line.

That, ahem, slightly derails Pera and the American puts a straightforward backhand into the net.

Naomi Broady
British number three on BBC Radio at Melbourne Park

It'll be interesting to see how long Pera stays confident if Jo maintains this early lead. It's tough to go out there and beat someone in the top 10. You've got that in your head that they're at that ranking. It's almost an obstacle to overcome before you get out there.

A loose Pera backhand drifts just long, with Konta watching it all the way beyond the baseline.

The ninth seed squats low to put everything into a deep forehand, but it's met with similar force from the left-hander and Konta can only clip the net in response.

Konta seals the game, coaxing Pera from side to side before the American is all out of fight.

Johanna Konta cruised through her opening Australian Open tie against Madison Brengle, but Bernarda Pera is proving a little more tricky early on.

The American only reached the first round as a lucky loser, but she goes 0-15 on Konta's serve.

Sharp, solid strokes from the baseline from Konta reestablish the Brit's authority on her service game - that's 30-15.

That's the hold for Bernarda Pera - no sign of any early nerves for the 23-year-old American.

Bernarda Pera, a left-hander, whips a serve towards the Johanna Konta backhand and edges into a 30-0 lead.

Konta piles a wild backhand into the court two crowd, she got the timing on that one all wrong - like a hammer thrower not letting go and finding the cage.

Naomi Broady
British number three on BBC Radio at Melbourne Park

The temperature is not too bad at the minute - it's about 32C - but in Melbourne it tends to get really hot mid-afternoon, 3-4pm, so if you are on at that time you are going to feel the heat.

A break point chance for Pera after a Konta backhand drifts wide. Konta thinks about challenging, but opts no to and brings it back to deuce with some feisty groundstrokes on the next point.

A huge backhand follows, and Pera then can't control a backhand of her own. Konta wraps up the service game, with a little "come on" to boot.

A second double fault follows in a row. Love text commentator's curse? If that's a thing...

Konta is looking into the Melbourne sun, and perhaps that is causing her the problems.

The British number one gets her second serve in and Pera sends the return long, but the American manages to engage the ninth seed on the next point and steers her way to deuce.

Johanna Konta rifles into a 30-0 lead, no messing about on her opening service game, that is until a double fault - her first of the tournament.

And here we go. Johanna Konta to serve first.

Image source, Getty Images

So what can we tell you about the little-known Bernarda Pera?

The American will be a new test for Johanna Konta, with the pair not having met on the circuit before.

Pera, 23, is currently ranked at a career-high 123 in the world, having been down in the 300s this time last year.

Having successfully negotiated qualifying, Pera beat Russia's Anna Blinkova 6-2 6-2 to set up a second-round meeting with Konta.

Image source, EPA

Sydney-born Briton Johanna Konta said after her opening win over Madison Brengle that she "loves the Australian heat" - that will certainly come in useful today.

"I think I take it in my stride. I know it's a part of it," said Konta.

"Everyone who comes here knows that it's going to happen at one point or another.

"I think it's very similar to every other match we prepare for, obviously with more emphasis on hydrating well and making sure I have enough fluids and energy in me."

Also on day four...

In the day session, six-time champion Novak Djokovic, playing his first tournament since Wimbledon following an elbow injury, faces Frenchman Gael Monfils. That could be an absolute cracker.

Top seed Simona Halep will hope to have recovered from a nasty ankle roll in her opening match when she takes on Canada's Eugenie Bouchard in the Margaret Court Arena night session at 08:00 GMT.

Also set to feature in the night session is Roger Federer, with the 19-time Grand Slam champion playing Jan-Lennard Struff at around 10:00, following Halep-Bouchard.

Image source, Getty Images

While Johanna Konta is playing on court two, Maria Sharapova is the opening act on the Rod Laver Arena as she faces Anastasija Sevastova.

Sharapova will be looking for revenge after the Latvian world number 15 came form behind to beat her in three sets in the fourth round of the US Open in September.

They played each other a few weeks later in Beijing with Sharapova prevailing in a final-set tie-break. So expect them to go the distance again today.

We'll have regular updates from this match during our Konta coverage.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra is on air from 00:00 GMT to bring you all the action from Johanna Konta's second round meeting with Bernarda Pera.

Click the link at the top of this page to listen in.

Image source, Getty Images

What's Johanna Konta been up to?

The 26-year-old saw off American Madison Brengle 6-3 6-1 on Tuesday, and found time to play computer games with fans at Melbourne Park in between preparing for her second round match.

Maybe she was casting a virtual look at opponent Bernarda Pera, with the Briton admitting she knows little about the 23-year-old American.

"I don't really know much about her," said Konta after her opening round win. "I will talk to Michael [Joyce, coach] soon enough."

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Image source, BBC Sport

"Everyone who comes here knows that it's going to happen."

Johanna Konta is well prepared but those who left the house without realising it's hot enough to melt your shoes are able to top up on sunscreen at the gates to Melbourne Park. Already a cosy 30C at 10am, it's forecast to hit 38C at about 5pm - warming us up nicely for 41C tomorrow.

All of which means Konta might have got lucky with her early start today, as conditions will be as 'comfortable' as they're going to be for the next couple of days.

Image source, BBC Sport