Basilashvili will serve to start the fourth.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Image source, BBC Sport

Not the electric atmosphere of three years ago here, but it was never going to be.

Nevertheless, it is bubbling. I'd say it is the fullest court I've seen here over the first two days, too.

A longish queue formed at the bottom of the stairs to the upper tier as people, with their proof of vaccination in their grasp, patiently waited to be let in.

Capacity is capped at 50% following rules brought in by Victoria government officials last week to stop rising rates of coronavirus.

Russell Fuller
Tennis correspondent in Melbourne

Murray wins the set, racquet aloft and that was spectacular, Andy Murray's defence in fine working order.

Heather Watson got broken in the first game of the deciding set but has just shown great character to instantly get back level.

She had charged to the net and punched away a two-handed backhand volley to get the break point and Sherif then sent a forehand long and we're back on serve in the final set.

A big miss from Nikoloz Basilashvili, and Andy Murray takes the third!

Image source, Getty

Oh!

Murray thinks he's won it with a serve out wide, shakes his racquet in celebration - and then the machine, on a bit of a delay, calls it a let.

Murray's not amused.

A long rally and it's Basiliashvili who falters, forced to make the extra shot by Murray.

Two set points to the Brit.

Out wide goes Murray, and he gets the first point on his serve, before he pushes a backhand low into the net.

15-15.

The Egyptian gets the break of serve immediately at the start of the third set. Heather Watson bounces her racquet on the ground in frustration, but she is going to have fight back quickly or is going to be in lots of trouble.

A missed return from Murray and a backhand winner from Basilashvili, and it'll be down to Murray to serve this set out.

The third set has started badly for Heather Watson as she find herself 0-30 down on her own serve after a lengthy absence for Sherif following the end of the second set.

Watson pulls it back to 30-30 but a wild forehand gives Sherif a break point, 30-40.

Basilashvili does his best to give Murray a chance as he misses a couple of smashes, but he finally puts one away to force another deuce.

Not the, er, strongest shot of his.

Murray steps in for the Basilashvili second serve and is rewarded when his opponent, on the run, nets.

Can Murray close it out this time?

Another big forehand gets Basilashvili out of a scrape, though.

Andy Murray is going to get another set point, though, as a loopy forehand from Nikoloz Basilashvili misses its mark.

Excellent counter-punch from Basilashvili, and we're at deuce.

Now then.

Set point to Murray as Basilashvili snatches a forehand into the net.

Both players trade early blows for 15-15.

Britain's Heather Watson has been taken to a deciding set by Egypt's Mayar Sherif.

Watson dropped serve again in the 11th game of the second set and Sherif served it out at the second attempt on court eight.

Andy Murray whistles down back-to-back aces to get his service game under way.

A missed backhand is the only blot on Murray's copybook as he hurries through a hold to 15. He's within touching distance of the third set.