It's been an encouraging start to set two by Wei Sijia, but she can't hold Jasmine Paolini back for long.

The Italian pounces on a second serve and crashes a forehand back down the court to make the breakthrough.

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Botic van de Zandschulp holds serve at the start of the second set.

That's a bit more like it from the Dutchman, he is making the most of his service games now.

A much more satisfying service game for Jasmine Paolini, who holds to 15 as she looks to maintain her charge towards the second round.

Yep, Wei looks like she's beginning to enjoy this a lot more now.

The 21-year-old drives a two-handed backhand down the line to claim her second game and edge back in front of the fourth seed, with a fraction of the effort Paolini required to hold moments ago.

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Approaching the 10-minute mark, Jasmine Paolini gets over the line after a sixth deuce to bring herself level early in the second set.

Wei Sijia certainly appears to have shaken off the nerves which badly unsettled her in the first set.

The Italian does not look too pleased with herself after struggling to get that single game done in a third of the time it took her to clean up all six games in the first set.

Alex de Minaur seals the first set with another impressive service game - it only took him 26 minutes.

Botic van de Zandschulp surely has to change his game plan before this first-round match starts running away from him.

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A big opportunity for Wei Sijia is taken away as Jasmine Paolini plays a couple of smart points to reach deuce.

A real scrap unfolds from there as both players deny the other. We're now into a fifth deuce and ninth minute of this game. This is looking a fair bit more competitive now.

After just 20 minutes, Alex de Minaur has opened up a five-game lead over Botic van de Zandschulp.

The Australian couldn't have asked for a better start, he is making things look easy in front of his home crowd, but it has been a disappointing start for the Dutchman.

Now then, a missed backhand from Jasmine Paolini gives Wei Sijia a sixth consecutive point without reply in the second set - and 0-30 on the Italian's serve.

And she will have an opportunity to take charge of the set! Two, in fact.

A fresh set and a fresh start for Wei Sijia, who will hope to quickly move on from that entirely one-sided opener.

That is absolutely the start she needed, a love hold delivering a first game at a Grand Slam for the 21-year-old debutant.

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Things are getting slightly more competitive on Rod Laver Arena, but Alex de Minaur still manages to hold serve after tussling at deuce for a little while.

Van de Zandschulp's threat is emerging, but he will need to do more than that to challenge the Australian.

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An ace secures the first set for Jasmine Paolini in half an hour, with no games conceded.

Wei Sijia misses a volley at the net and it's just not happening for her here.

The 21-year-old nets a fairly routine overhead to give Jasmine Paolini two set points - but a miss from the Italian helps Wei back to deuce.

Can she take this opportunity?

Alex de Minaur has just blitzed through those first two games.

The Australian is serving well, looking solid from the back of the court and is yet to make any unforced errors.

Botic van de Zandschulp could really do with getting a look into this game, preferably before it escapes him.

We were watching Daniil Medvedev narrowly avoid a monumental upset not that long ago, but there doesn't appear any hint that Paolini will face similar problems here.

The Italian fourth seed is in total control and threatening to bagel the Chinese debutant in this opening set, taking the second of three break points on her opponent's serve to take a fifth straight game after 25 minutes.

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Wei Sijia shows signs of finding her feet as she meets a second serve and slams a backhand return down the line, before following Jasmine Paolini to deuce in search of a response.

The Chinese player gets her reward in the form of another break point, but Paolini rescues it with an ace before settling her latest game with a punishing forehand.

Alex de Minaur has just got play under way on Rod Laver Arena.

The world number eight and Australian favourite received a warm welcome from the crowd and he will be hoping to get the better of Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.

Chinese world number 117 Wei Sijia is making her first Grand Slam main-draw appearance at this year's Australian Open - and there are not many tougher draws she could have received in Melbourne.

She has another two break points to face here, but manages to recover to deuce.

But after Wei is unable to take her first three opportunities to take her first game, Paolini extends her lead with her next opportunity.

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Wei Sijia responds well, getting a break point of her own on Jasmine Paolini's opening service game, but Paolini manages to scramble to deuce before resettling into her rhythm and consolidating her advantage on Margaret Court Arena.

A fast start by fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, who wastes no time asserting herself in this match.

The Italian, who became the first Italian in the Open Era to reach the fourth round of the women's singles at all four Grand Slam events in a single calendar year in 2024, gets two break points in the opening game and gets the second as Wei struggles with some early nerves.