Away we go on Rod Laver Arena.

Novak Djokovic to serve first.

It's a race against the age clock for Novak Djokovic to become the player with the outright most Grand Slam titles.

Currently on 24, Djokovic needs one more title to go clear of Margaret Court and become the most decorated player in the game when it comes to Slams.

Last year was the first since 2017 that Djokovic didn't win a Grand Slam in the calendar year but he's clearly desperate to get that record.

Is this the time?

Off we go on Margaret Court Arena. Leylah Fernandez has won the coin toss and chosen to serve first.

*denotes next server.

Here come Coco Gauff and Leylah Fernandez. We could see the pair waiting in the tunnel just before they arrived on Margaret Court Arena for the night session.

Gauff had her headphones on and was looking lively, hopping up and down on the spot while Fernandez was like a statue, locked in and staring straight ahead. Pure focus.

Thomas Machac could pose a significant threat to Novak Djokovic in Australia.

The Czech number one made significant progress last year, establishing himself as a top-30 player.

One of his standout wins in 2024 came against, you've guessed it, Djokovic in Geneva. And Djokovic has dropped a set in each of his matches so far so that could give Machac some confidence.

The players are doing their final preparations in the tunnel, we're almost ready to go on Rod Laver Arena.

Image source, Getty Images

If Novak Djokovic wins today, murmurings will begin about a potential quarter-final clash with Carlos Alcaraz.

If seventh seed Djokovic progresses to the last 16 today he would then need to beat either Benjamin Bonzi or 24th seed Jiri Lehecka, who face each other later today.

Alcaraz came through his match against Nuno Borges earlier today and would need to overcome either Jack Draper or Alexander Vukic in the last 16.

There's a few ifs and buts in there but that's a match-up many would look forward to should it happen.

Jakub Mensik and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina are into a decider on Show Court Arena.

The pair have been battling it out for over three hours, with Davidovich Fokina fighting back from two sets to love down and saving two match points to force the game into a fifth set where he is 4-0 up.

Czech Mensik, 19, sealed his third-round spot with a four-set victory over Casper Ruud and Davidovich Fokina claimed his spot with a five-set win over Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Last time out, Novak Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer's record for the most major singles matches played as he reached the Australian Open third round.

The 37-year-old was made to work in his 430th Grand Slam singles match but he emerged triumphant, beating qualifier Jaime Faria 6-1 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-2.

The win gives Djokovic sole ownership of the all-time record for most Grand Slam singles matches played among men and women, and takes him past former rival Federer, who played his last major match at Wimbledon in 2021.

"I love this sport. I love competition," Djokovic said when asked about the milestone.

"I try to give my best every single time. It's been over 20 years that I've been competing in Grand Slams at the highest level.

"Whether I win or lose, I will always leave my heart out on the court. I'm just blessed to be making another record."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Coco Gauff, 20, and Leylah Fernandez, 22, will be opening the night session on Margaret Court Arena very shortly.

It's easy to forget the ages of these two because they've been kicking about the WTA Tour for quite a while now.

Surprisingly, the pair only met in a singles match for the first time just a couple of weeks ago at the United Cup, with Gauff completing a confident straight-set win over the Canadian.

The 2023 US Open champion will be hoping for much of the same today.

"She's going to be aggressive - that’s her game," Gauff said. "She's a great mover. Slam finalist and has great results against top players. I expect her to play great tennis. I just hope I can do the same."

Britain's Jacob Fearnley saw his encouraging Australian Open run come to an end against German second seed Alexander Zverev in the third round.

The 23-year-old Briton, playing in his first overseas Grand Slam tournament, lost 6-3 6-4 6-4 in Melbourne.

Fearnley, ranked 92nd, earned direct entry into the first major of season on the back of a meteoric rise in 2024.

After beating an injured Nick Kyrgios in a rowdy first-round atmosphere, he set up the clash against Zverev with another impressive win over France's Arthur Cazaux.

While the Scot held his own for most of the contest, Zverev's greater consistency was enough to see him through to the fourth round.

Image source, Getty Images

Carlos Alcaraz said he will "for sure" get a kangaroo tattoo if he wins the Australian Open, the only Grand Slam title missing from his already illustrious career.

The Spaniard overcame Portugal's Nuno Borges 6-2 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 to progress to the fourth round, where he could meet British number one Jack Draper.

The 21-year-old is bidding to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.

"I will get a kangaroo [tattoo] for sure, that's my idea. The only thing missing is to lift the trophy here but it's definitely the plan if it happens," he said.

Alcaraz already has tattoos of the date of his 2022 US Open win, the Eiffel Tower to represent his 2024 French Open triumph and a strawberry to represent his two Wimbledon titles.

Image source, Getty Images

While you were all tucked up in bed this morning, tennis was being played on the other side of the world.

Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka secured a hard-fought 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 victory over Denmark's Clara Tauson in a match with 11 breaks of serve.

There have also been wins for 18th seed Donna Vekic and 11th seed Paula Badosa.

In the men's draw, Britain's Jacob Fearnley is out after losing to second seed Alexander Zverev while four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz dropped his first set of the tournament but progressed to the last 16.

As many life partners can testify, a successful relationship is not necessarily built on instant attraction.

It turns out it can be the same for doubles partners in tennis.

Britain's Henry Patten is thankful his Finnish playing partner Harri Heliovaara had a change of heart after initial misgivings.

"To put it in dating terms, we weren't particularly happy about how our relationships were going in the doubles world at the start of last year," Patten, who became the British number one in doubles last year, told BBC Sport.

"We were in Acapulco and started to discuss maybe playing together. Harri initially said no.

"Then I think he had one bad result too many and said 'screw it, let's just do it'."

The rewards since they took the plunge have been staggering.

Read more about Patten and Heliovaara's successful partnership here.

Image source, Getty Images

There's still plenty more to come at the Australian Open, with American third seed Coco Gauff up against Canada's Leylah Fernandez from 08:00 GMT.

At the same time in the men's draw, Novak Djokovic - seeking a record 25th major - plays Tomas Machac.

Britain's Jack Draper will face Australian Aleksandar Vukic after Gauff's match.

Plus, there's loads of doubles action taking place across Melbourne Park with plenty of Brits in the mix.

What a shame for Naomi Osaka.

Now that that's happened we're all patiently waiting for 08:00 GMT (19:00 local time) for the evening sessions to get going on the Rod Laver and Margaret Court Arenas.

Of course there's plenty of tennis happening around Melbourne Park but we'll be focussing on Coco Gauff's match against Leylah Fernandez and Novak Djokovic's tie against Thomas Machac from around 08:00 GMT.

Until then, let's keep recapping what's been going on this morning.

Andrea Petkovic
Former German top 10 player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It is such a difficult decision to make. At a Grand Slam, no matter how hurt you are, you do try to push through. It is so unfortunate.

It is just so frustrating because we have just seen her play her best tennis again. She reached the final in Auckland and had to retire because of the same injury, an abdominal strain, and now it has flared up again.

That is unfortunately true for these types of muscle injuries. You have scar tissue on that area and if you are not careful or you get tired then you can reinjure it.

Belinda Bencic speaking on court after Naomi Osaka retires from match injured:

"I really feel for Naomi I saw her struggling a bit in the end of the set. It's not the way you want the match to end. It was a good match so hopefully she will be fine soon and can get back winning.

"She started better than me but I found my rhythm. I tried to focus on myself. I have things to improve but I'm happy with the way I'm playing right now."

On facing Coco Gauff or Leyla Fernandez next: "I will focus on me and do my cool down but I'm sure my coach will watch that match."

Bencic also wrote "get well soon moma" on the camera lens.

Image source, Getty Images

Nobody wanted to see this.

Naomi Osaka looked certain to wrap up the first set against Belinda Bencic after opening up a 4-1 lead, but the four-time Grand Slam champion has had to retire because of injury.

Osaka was playing in the third round of a major for the first time since returning from maternity leave last year, and she was also looking to reach the fourth round for the first time since she won the Melbourne title in 2021.

The Japanese player called for the physio while she was 6-5 up in the first set as she seemed to struggle with an abdominal issue.

And after Bencic stormed through the first-set tie-break, Osaka has called it a day. A real shame.

Image source, EPA

We are waiting for the confirmed order of play but we know Great Britain's Emma Raducanu will face Iga Swiatek on Saturday after reaching the Australian Open third round for the first time.

"It will be a very good match for me," said 22-year-old Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion.

Poand's Swiatek is a five-time Grand slam champion but has never won the title in Melbourne.

"Well for sure it's going to be a tough one," said the world number two Swiatek. "Emma can play great tennis. We all know that."

American Danielle Collins thanked fans that heckled her during her second-round victory over Destanee Aiava at the Australian Open for "paying my bills".

The 10th seed cupped her left hand to her ear and blew kisses to the crowd, who booed as she wrapped up a 7-6 4-6 6-2 win over Australian home hope Aiava to reach the third round.

Collins, 31, said she "loved" the hostile atmosphere at Kia Arena and said it motivated her against the world number 195.

"One of the greatest things about being a professional athlete is that the people that don't like you and the people that hate you, they actually pay your bills," Collins said.

"My professional career is not going to last forever so I just remind myself every day when I have that kind of stuff [negative crowd reactions] they're paying my bills.

"Every person that has bought a ticket to come out here and heckle me or do what they do, it's all going towards the Danielle Collins fund."