Novak Djokovic is smiling and chattering to himself about something as Carlos Alcaraz can't return a big first serve.

The Spaniard guides a backhand winner down the line which just clips the paint, but he can't do anything about the next point which sees Djokovic hold with another powerful first serve.

That's four straight games for the Serb seventh seed.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

I mean... what on Earth.

Novak Djokovic leaves Rod Laver Arena stunned. How many times have we said that over the years?

There is a crackle of excitement at the end of the set as 15,000 people dissect what they have just seen.

There was a collective gasp as his racquet clunked the court before he scampered back to retrieve the lob.

Then came the roar when he won the point. It was so loud that it will have been heard back in Melbourne city centre.

Carlos Alcaraz saves the first break point but goes long with a forehand on the second and Novak Djokovic has the early break!

The Serb has all the momentum now.

Who would have thought Novak Djokovic would go on to lead this match after those fitness problems at the end of the first set?

The Serb shows time and time again you can never rule him out.

Back on court Djokovic steps in to a mis-timed dropshot to earn two break points.

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

Carlos Alcaraz looks like he might have done some damage to his hip himself. He is hobbling around.

It might be cramp but he was smiling, laughing, holding his hip and then he couldn't bend his leg. He looks to be in quite a lot of pain himself now.

I'm just marvelling at how Novak Djokovic has turned this around!

Djokovic fights to 30-30 with a strong first serve, prompting more signs of frustration from Alcaraz.

The Serb brings up set point and he takes it with a backhand from the back of the court after a remarkable lengthy exchange, which the Spaniard can't dig out from near his toes.

Djokovic laps up the applause while Alcaraz can only laugh as the pair head over to their seats.

Image source, Reuters

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

Classic Djokovic.

After breaking again for 5-3, he turns slowly towards the crowd behind the baseline and cups his ear.

More noise for me, he demands.

The Hulk Hogan of tennis. Now he's looking for the leg drop...

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

That was a great return of serve from Djokovic.

He used the pace to just chip the return back deep towards the baseline. Alcaraz went for too much there, just losing a little bit of concentration.

Alcaraz bellowed there - you don't see him losing his composure like this very often. He is really berating himself.

That's why Novak Djokovic is a 24-time Grand Slam champion.

After a punishing 22-shot rally, he arrows a forehand winner into the corner to break again with Carlos Alcaraz motionless.

The Serb points his finger to his ear in celebration and will now serve for the third set.

Image source, Reuters

The umpire has to warn the crowd about being noisy as players are about to serve before Novak Djokovic fights his way to three break points.

Carlos Alcaraz lets out a giant groan in frustration.

Novak Djokovic lands his first serve to save the first two break points but is then outworked by Carlos Alcaraz during a rally with the Spaniard breaking back immediately.

Just when you think one player has the momentum, the other wrestles it back.

Carlos Alcaraz gets the better of a rally to work his way to 0-30 and half a chance to break back immediately.

A double fault from Novak Djokovic then offers three break points.

Oohs from the crowd as a double fault from Carlos Alcaraz gives Novak Djokovic break point.

And the Serb takes it as his trademark defence from the baseline forces Alcaraz to put a backhand into the net.

Carlos Alcaraz undoes some great work with his backhand by missing a forehand volley, much to the surprise of the crowd.

Can Novak Djokovic capitalise?

The Serb works his way to 40-30 before Alcaraz nets to send the game to deuce.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

Alcaraz's current befuddlement is clear. Djokovic has warped his mind.

His service games have been an ordeal in this third set.

The time violation is a hit the young Spaniard is willing to take as he tries to get to grips with the situation.

Yet, a couple of points later, Alcaraz is left waving his arms around like a petulant child when Djokovic thunders away a winner on the second ball back in the point.

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

I think Novak Djokovic is closing in on the ball much better.

Maybe there were some early nerves, but even though he got off to a fast start I didn't think that he was middling the ball with as much injection of pace as he is now.

Now he is just seeing everything like a football.

Novak Djokovic has Carlos Alcaraz stretching to reach a backhand across court and he can't keep it in play.

Djokovic responds to a fierce forehand winner from Alcaraz with some neat play at the net, before holding as the Spaniard goes long.

Novak Djokovic finds the net and we go to deuce, much to the relief of Carlos Alcaraz.

The Spaniard sends Djokovic out wide to the left before lashing the ball the other way and despite getting to the ball, the 24-time major winner can't launch it back over.

And there's a big forehand winner to see Alcaraz through.

The drop shot, which normally works so well for Carlos Alcaraz, isn't troubling Novak Djokovic at the moment. The Serb gets to that one quickly and then beats Alcaraz after a quickfire rally at the net.

At 15-30 down, Alcaraz takes too long over his serve and receives a time violation from the umpire but it seems like a bit of a breather was just what he needed as he gets himself level. 30-30.

But Djokovic isn't going anywhere and a sublime forehand winner brings up another break point.