Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

Djokovic just keeps on taking the ball up the middle of the court quite low and Alcaraz is just missing them, but they are unusual misses.

Is this the Andy Murray influence? Has he studied the tapes and introduced this tactic down the centre, sparingly but enough to bring about a few unforced errors from Alcaraz?

It is really intriguing.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

Things are spicing up.

Alcaraz is made to wait a few seconds until a rousing rendition of 'Nole! Id-e-mo!!' from the Djokovic fans quells.

Spanish voices respond. A lot of vamos-ing, naturally.

Polite applause from Andy Murray as Novak Djokovic lands two first serves which Carlos Alcaraz can't do anything with.

Alcaraz capitalises on a mis-timed Djokovic drop shot but drags a forehand wide next point and the Serb holds.

Carlos Alcaraz's forehand earns the Spanish third seed advantage before a big first serve secures the hold.

An uncharacteristic miss from Carlos Alcaraz as he plants a forehand into the net.

For some reason that shot spurs the crowd, who are twice told to calm down by the umpire.

Novak Djokovic narrowly misses a backhand pass down the line and he looks up towards the Melbourne sky in anguish, but recovers the next point to force deuce.

Novak Djokovic's first serve sees him come through deuce to hold.

The cameras show the Serb's coach Andy Murray at courtside, and his poker face isn't giving anything away.

Image source, Getty Images

That's too good from Carlos Alcaraz who stretches Novak Djokovic's body left and right before smashing a forehand winner down the line.

Serb seventh seed Djokovic shrugs it off with a couple of strong first serves but Alcaraz responds with a forehand winner across court.

We go to deuce as Djokovic clips the net with a backhand.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

Djokovic and Alcaraz have got such different demeanours on court, don't they?

Alcaraz is almost sauntering in the way that he walks around the court with a big smile. He keeps looking over at his team and he just kind of soaks everything up.

On the other hand, Djokovic is very focused down there.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

"Come on Andy!" shouts one British fella.

Alcaraz is facing two of the game's icons tonight.

Not sure Djokovic and Murray working in tandem on the baseline would have stopped that Alcaraz backhand winner.

Wowzers. What a way to finish an intense 26-shot rally.

Image source, Getty Images

That rally in the previous game was 26 shots by the way, according to TV coverage - the longest of the match so far.

Carlos Alcaraz comes though his service game relatively untroubled to consolidate the break and we are level again once more in this first set.

I lost count of how many shots that rally was but it's Carlos Alcaraz who strikes the decisive blow with a backhand winner down the line.

You can't take your eyes off it so far.

Image source, Getty Images

These two are starting to find their feet at the baseline now with a couple of engaging rallies and it's Carlos Alcaraz who comes through, dragging the score back to 30-30.

Novak Djokovic then goes long and the Spaniard has his first break point of the match.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

I really hope that people start to give Novak Djokovic the respect that he deserves, not just because of his achievements as a tennis player but also as an all-round athlete.

What he is doing in sport right now is just jaw-dropping.

He is so utterly professional, so dedicated to what he is trying to achieve and I have nothing but admiration for his strength and character.

Carlos Alcaraz goes long once again and Novak Djokovic has the early break!

Image source, Getty Images

You can hear the anticipation in the crowd on Rod Laver Arena, who must be hoping for a classic on this Melbourne evening.

At 0-30 down this might be a taste of things to come as Carlos Alcaraz somehow stretches to dink a shot over the net at close range - that brings applause from the Serb.

Alcaraz then goes long to offer the first break point of the match.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

It was interesting to see what reception Djokovic receives after another row here - this time involving Aussie television presenter Tony Jones.

Well, it turned out to be as warm and welcoming as ever.

The 10-time champion is adored at Rod Laver Arena - which he has often described as his "second home" - but the mood of the Australians can be volatile.

Public opinion swelled against him in 2022 when he was deported after the Covid row, although he received a great reception when he returned in 2023.

Most Aussies I've spoke to about this week's incident have been behind Djokovic, believing Jones was out of order.

Those here at RLA seem to agree.

A good early start for Novak Djokovic who races to 40-0 with Carlos Alcaraz unable to do much with his returns, before the Spaniard finds his range to bring it back to 40-30.

Djokovic finds a strong first serve to see out the opening game.

Ryan Harrison
Former American tennis player on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

I think Novak Djokovic wins this in four sets.

I think that it could go to five sets, but I'm going for four sets because Djokovic is playing great tennis, he is the best ever and he is playing well on this court.

I'm excited - this should be fun!

Right then, here we go as Novak Djokovic gets us under way on Rod Laver Arena.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

Image source, BBC Sport

Earlier, I was talking about the weather conditions being warm.

Well, it’s gone cold. A wind has whipped up, too.

Champagne glasses were crashing off tables in the swanky outdoor terrace outside Rod Laver Arena.

Hope it was empty.

Reckon the stiff breeze could affect Alcaraz’s work-in-progress serve. But we will see.