Away we go for our second match of the evening session in Melbourne and the defending champion Aryna Sabalenka gets us started.

Should Aryna Sabalenka come through this one unscathed, she finds herself sitting on arguably the more favourable side of the draw in this tournament.

She would face another youngster, 16-year-old Brenda Fruhvirtova, in the next round and would likely only meet top seed Iga Swiatek or third seed Elena Rybakina in the final, should she get there.

She did, however, fall short against Rybakina last week in Brisbane.

Image source, Getty Images

There's making your Grand Slam debut and then there's making your Grand Slam debut against the reigning champion on Rod Laver.

The latter is the task 18-year-old German qualifier Ella Siedel finds herself facing.

Siedel is ranked 172 in the world and performed well to come through the qualifying rounds but won't be expected to take much from this match.

That being said, she may well just have been watching fellow youngster Dino Prizmic have the game of his life against world number one Novak Djokovic - a bit of inspiration, perhaps?

She'll want to announce herself as a strong competitor here.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka begins her title defence on Rod Laver next.

The second seed secured a maiden Grand Slam singles title on this court last year and takes on German qualifier Ella Siedel in her first-round match as she looks to replicate that achievement in Melbourne.

Belarusian Sabalenka came close to winning a second major in New York at the US Open last year but lost out to American youngster Coco Gauff in the final.

She also enjoyed runs to the semi-finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Can she get 2024 off to a dream start down under?

Right, let's turn our attention to another defending champion and another 18-year-old hoping to make their mark on the world stage...

We've got one more big match to bring you on the first day of the Australian Open as Aryna Sabalenka takes on German qualifier Ella Siedel. But first let's have a look at what has happened so far in Melbourne:

• Italian fourth seed Jannik Sinner made a promising start to his Australian Open title bid with a 6-4 7-5 6-3 win over Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp
• Fifth seed Andrey Rublev survived a comeback from world number 78 Thiago Seyboth Wild to win a five-set thriller 7-5 6-4 3-6 4-6 7-6 (10-6)
• Former semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini withdrew before his first-round match against Stefanos Tsitsipas because of a foot injury
• And as we've just seen, Novak Djokovic overcame 18-year-old Dino Prizmic 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-4

Image source, Getty Images

In the women's tournament:

• Britain's Jodie Burrage lost her first-round match 2-6 6-3 6-0 to Germany's Tamara Korpatsch on her main-draw debut
• Greek eighth seed Maria Sakkari won her first Grand Slam match in a year with a 6-4 6-1 victory over Japan's Nao Hibino
• Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the second round after Polish 20th seed Magda Linette retired through injury
• American Amanda Anisimova earned an impressive 6-3 6-4 win over 13th seed Liudmila Samsonova in her first Grand Slam since taking a seven-month break after experiencing burnout

Image source, Getty Images

Agent1984_84: The Leo Messi of tennis.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's what Novak Djokovic had to say following his hard-fought victory over impressive teenager Dino Prizmic.

First, on his opponent, who was making his Grand Slam debut: "He deserves all the applause. He is an amazing player, he handled himself incredibly well on the court. This is his moment.

"It could easily have been his match as well. He fought from 4-0 down [in the fourth set] and break points down. He showed great mentality and resilience. He made me really run for my money tonight.

"Honestly I have many compliments for him. I love the way he uses every inch of the court, he's comfortable to come in, he defends incredibly well.

"Just an amazing performance for someone who is 18 years old and has never had experience on playing on this stage. Big kudos to his team and his family.

"I certainly want to be in his corner. So hopefully he will invite me, because he will make some big things in his career that's for sure. We are going to see a lot of him in the future."

On his own performance, he added: "I started off very well, for a 36-year-old. But when you think about it, jeez, I'm double his age. Reality hits hard tonight.

"I'm really trying to enjoy every moment on the court. I struggled in many different moments tonight. But it is credit to him and his game plan.

"He had an answer to everything, he was very physical. I had good moments. In some moments I wish I could have played better, more aggressively.

"It has been a very short off-season and I am still finding myself physically out on the court but I have a couple of days off before my next match so hopefully I will be able to be at my best for that."

As per Opta, Novak Djokovic is now the only male player with 90 or more victories in singles at three different majors.

He's won 92 matches at both the French Open and Wimbledon, and now 90 in Melbourne.

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

As a defending champion, you don't expect a young player to come out and play like that. What a first-round match. Prizmic was not slowing down at all, even after four hours.

At four hours and one minute, that is the longest first round match Novak Djokovic has ever played at a Grand Slam.

His previous longest was all the way back in 2005, when he came up against Gael Monfils at the US Open.

Novak Djokovic embraces Dino Prizmic at the net and has some warm words for the 18-year-old, who has well and truly announced himself on the men's tour with that superb performance on his Grand Slam debut.

He pushed Djokovic for four hours and one minute and rightfully receives a brilliant reception as he exits the court.

David Law
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

What is going on?!

Don't go anywhere just yet!

Djokovic misses a forehand.

One match point left, for now...

Surely Prizmic isn't getting out of this?

He saves a fifth match point with a forehand winner.

Two more for Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic moves to 30-0 and Prizmic misses a lob.

Three more match points for the world number one.

Ah, Dino Prizmic does everything right but falters with a forehand on the opening point.

Another miss from Djokovic!

Can Prizmic keep going here? Yes he can! Djokovic nets a return and the defending champion is forced to serve out the match.

Prizmic has earned one last chance.

David Law
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

In the 10 times Djokovic has won the title, I don't think he's had a tougher first round than this.