Frances Tiafoe is out of the picture, Rafa Nadal steadying himself for a forehand winner - and he misses!

Another break point for Tiafoe.

And Nadal, being Nadal, clonks down a superb, out wide serve that Tifaoe sends long.

Deuce.

Well then!

Rafa Nadal steadies himself as a Tiafoe cross-court swipe takes a nibble off the net, but Tiafoe keeps counter-punching, coming down the lines and eventually he smashes his way to break point.

Can Frances Tiafoe make some inroads?

He's 0-30 up on the Nadal serve as the Spaniard misses a couple of shots, but one goes begging with a hoick of a forehand.

Nadal goes into the body with his serve and Tiafoe, cramped for room, goes long. 30-30.

Gigi Salmon
Radio 5 live sports extra tennis commentator at Melbourne Park

Nadal just crushes your spirit. He gives every single point 100%. He never gives up.

Back-to-back errors on the backhand from Rafael Nadal, and Frances Tiafoe holds.

Tiafoe swats a backhand cross-court to go 15-0 up, but Nadal is still dictating these rallies.

OH! Nadal spins around as he meets Tiafoe's serve with a backhand slice, his back to the court - and somehow he manages to pass Tiafoe! A no-look winner!

Just to prove to us that he is mortal, Nadal lashes an easy forehand over the tramlines for 30-30.

Gigi Salmon
Radio 5 live sports extra tennis commentator at Melbourne Park

I do see Frances Tiafoe winning a Slam. I don't know if I'm getting sucked in by his athleticism and the fun which surrounds him, though, because there's no standout shot.

Image source, Getty Images

Ace number five gets Nadal's serve ticking along. What a difference that new serve is making.

Another ace and a service winner rush Rafa into a love hold.

Simon Briggs
Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

It's almost as if some of these players do a deal with the devil - they are prepared to sacrifice their life post-retirement in search of more glory.

Gigi Salmon
Radio 5 live sports extra tennis commentator at Melbourne Park

Nadal doesn't half give his body a pounding - you have to wonder what long-term damage he is doing with daily injections to get himself going.

A screamer to break serve!

Frances Tiafoe comes forward and with a whirl of the wrists, Rafael Nadal passes him with an almighty forehand.

Frances Tiafoe has Rafa Nadal where he wants him, stranded cross-court, but his strike down the line is overworked to go 0-30 down.

A bobble off the net takes Tiafoe's forehand over the tramlines and without doing very much, Nadal has three break points.

Frances Tiafoe will serve first and try and get a foothold in this match.

Image source, EPA

Simon Briggs
Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

It's dominant and ruthless command of the centre of the court from Nadal. It's a 6-3 set but it didn't feel that close. Tiafoe has been run ragged.

Woof.

The final rally is all angles, Tiafoe charging around behind the baseline, Nadal sending him this way and that - and eventually Nadal sends a forehand winner into the corner!

With exactly 30 minutes on the clock, Nadal takes the first set.

Again, Frances Tiafoe is at the net with Rafael Nadal on the baseline - and again, he bunts his volley long!

Right idea, wrong execution. It's 30-15 on Nadal's serve and a one-two punch gives him two set points.

Image source, Getty Images

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent at Melbourne Park

Nadal normally studies the draw at a tournament closely but he says he hasn't this time and he is taking each match at a time.

Frances Tiafoe should win a point as he dictates a rally at the net, but he pushes his backhand long.

A long Nadal backhand takes us to 40-30 and the Spaniard, darting across to meet a drop shot, is through with his forehand too early.

Nadal will have to serve this one out.

There's only 21 minutes on the clock.

Rafa Nadal hasn't dropped a point on his first serve.

Image source, AFP