Dino Prizmic battles back well to reach 30-30 but he can't avoid facing a first break point in his opening game.

Novak Djokovic means business right from the very start.

It's 18-year-old Croatian Dino Prizmic who gets play under way on Rod Laver Arena.

And he's already in trouble.

Novak Djokovic takes the first couple of points, before dropping a return into the net. That's cheered by the crowd, who are keen for the underdog to gain some confidence early on.

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's a mystery to me how these players can keep so motivated.

There's no doubt that Djokovic wants to go down as the greatest of all time. He wants to be clearly ahead of Grand Slam titles - no ifs, no buts.

Right then, away we go!

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Katie Boulter is on the grounds with the fans.

The Brit will kick off her campaign on Tuesday as she looks to build upon her best ever season last year, when she reached a career high ranking of world number 50.

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Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

The crowds outside are outrageous. There's so many. I'd like to see all the Grand Slams start on a Sunday, though I'm not sure how Wimbledon would go with the grass needing to recover. It's a great atmosphere.

Can anyone prevent Novak Djokovic collecting another Australian Open title?

It certainly won't be easy.

Carlos Alcaraz has already proven he can take down the most successful men's player in history in a major final with his memorable Wimbledon triumph.

Earlier today, Italian fourth seed Jannik Sinner, who beat Djokovic twice towards the end of last year at the ATP Finals and Davis Cup, began with a comfortable straight-set win over Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.

But there is no denying who is the clear favourite in the men's draw.

David Law
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I think Djokovic is in as good a physical and mental state as it is possible to be. He is very relaxed. There's nothing else for him to prove - he's just enjoying himself and looking to extend his lead and put these young players in their place.

Here come the players!

Novak Djokovic and Dino Prizmic are greeted by a great reception as they make their way out for the first night session of the 2024 Australian Open.

The crowd are ready to see what the reigning men's champion can do here.

Last season was the fourth of Novak Djokovic's career in which he has won three of the four Grand Slams on offer.

Australian great Rod Laver - in 1969 - is the only man to win the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open titles in the same year since the Open era began.

Djokovic beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets in last year's Australian Open final, with his only defeat at a Grand Slam in 2023 coming against Carlos Alcaraz in an epic Wimbledon final.

"It might seem unrealistic or impossible to some. It might seem arrogant to some. I don't know," Djokovic said.

"When I'm fit, when I'm at the peak of my performance, I can win any Slam or any tournament. I know that. I'm not afraid to say that."

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

It is not uncommon for a tennis journalist to lose track of what day it is at a Grand Slam tournament. And today feels like a Monday.

Not because minds in Melbourne are still warped by jet-lag, no. But because play has started today at the Australian Open.

It is the first Sunday start here, following the lead of the French Open by extending to a 15-day tournament.

Tennis lovers have taken full advantage with 58,623 fans streaming through the gates today.

Even for a reduced schedule as the first-round matches are stretched over three days, the site is packed.

Image source, BBC Sport

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Phew.

A big puff of the cheeks from Andrey Rublev's coach, after the Russian collapses to the floor in a mixture of exhaustion, relief and celebration.

The fifth seed eventually wins a final-set tie-break 10-6 to defeat Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild 7-5 6-4 3-6 4-6 7-6 (10-6) after three hours and 42 minutes.

"For sure I will not forget this match, Rublev said in his on-court interview.

"Thiago is a super dangerous player, super talented. He hits so hard and so clean, it is so hard to beat him. He was serving so hard, not many double-faults, he could hit a winner from any position."

Rublev chose not to answer when asked if he could take something from this match and build on it, before thanking the crowd, who had supported the underdog: "Your support today almost made me lose the first round," he joked.

"Thank you so much for supporting the players that you like and coming to support tennis."

Following a stunning 2023 season in which he won three of the four Grand Slams, Novak Djokovic is aiming for history in Melbourne.

With four more Grand Slams to aim for in 2024 - and Olympic gold to be won - the 24-time major champion has grand ambitions, beginning with a tournament where he has enjoyed plenty of success.

A record-extending 11th men's singles title at Melbourne Park would take Djokovic clear of Australian Margaret Court as the player to win the most Grand Slam titles in history.

"It's not a secret that I want to break more records and make more history of the game, Djokovic said.

"That's something that keeps on motivating me."

Leon Smith
GB Davis Cup captain on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

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Jodie Burrage has a great ball strike and practices extremely hard. She's got the game for it.

Burrage has lost three times to Tamara Korpatsch but she will learn from it. Korpatsch is a bit unpredictable and maybe the conditions suited her better. Burrage just has to keep learning.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

Jodie Burrage cut a frustrated figure as a promising start to her Australian Open main-draw debut ended in a chastening defeat.

The British number two made a confident start to take the first set against Tamara Korpatsch, but faded badly as the German recovered to win 2-6 6-3 6-0.

In an outside court where the Melbourne skyline provides a stunning backdrop, Burrage's self-belief took a hit as Korpatsch starting finding a better level and disrupting her rhythm.

Burrage lost nine of the final 10 games and walking to the net with her head bowed - as you can see below - summed up her mood.

Read more here.

Image source, BBC Sport

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

Organisers claim the historic move was implemented in a bid to alleviate late-night finishes at Melbourne Park.

In reality, as Britain's Andy Murray also pointed out, is unlikely to make a great difference to that ongoing issue.

The real reason is bringing in stone-cold cash.

Almost 60,000 people are here today, spending their brass on tickets, booze, food and merch swells the coffers.

That helps the event continue its recovery from losses caused by the Covid-hit tournaments, spend more on keeping attracting the world's best players all the way to Australia and securing the future of the swing down under in the calendar.

Image source, BBC Sport

While Rafael Nadal's injury-enforced withdrawal has robbed us of seeing the Spaniard make his long-awaited return to Grand Slam action, there are no shortage of storylines to follow in Melbourne.

In his absence, Novak Djokovic will begin his latest bid for tennis history this morning. More on that to come very shortly..

Britain's Emma Raducanu is back on court after eight months out following wrist and ankle surgeries last year and the shock 2021 US Open champion will be the focus of lots of attention.

Another player making a long-awaited return will be Naomi Osaka, who won her fourth and most recent major title at the 2021 Australian Open, following extended breaks from the sport after suffering depression and then to give birth to her daughter in 2023.

Former world number one Andy Murray continues to fight on with a metal hip as he searches for another deep run at a major, five years after telling the media at the 2019 Australian Open he thought he would soon have to retire.

Meanwhile, will the extended 15-day format have the desired effect and help avoid late-night finishes? Murray spoke for pretty much everyone when he described finishing his Australian Open second-round match last year at 4:04am local time as "a farce", and the tournament has the Australian Open has tweaked its schedule as a result.

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Eighth seed Maria Sakkari reached round two with a 6-4 6-1 victory over Japan's Nao Hibino. The Greek has never gone beyond the last 16 in Melbourne.

2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez also won her first round match in straight sets. The Canadian beat Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 on John Cain Arena.

Elsewhere, ninth seed Barbora Krejcikova came from a set down to beat world number 116 Mai Hontama 2-6 6-4 6-3.

Czech 16-year-old Brenda Fruhvirtova won her first ever main draw match, defeating world number 63 Ana Bogdan 2-6 6-4 6-3.

Plus, 2022 quarterfinalist Alize Cornet lost 6-2 6-4 to Russian Maria Timofeeva.