Novak Djokovic (7) moves two sets to one up over Jaime Faria. The Melbourne Park specialist has not had things all his own way but there was a significant momentum shift midway through that third set. Djokovic has been playing within himself but is starting to open up as his confidence builds.

It will take a massive effort for the young Portuguese to regain a foothold.

The rain isn’t heavy but enough to cause a disruption. A change in wind direction and strength over the next couple of hours should blow it away.

It’s one of those frustrations of scheduling that two stadium courts are currently unused for singles play, but there’ll be action on John Cain Arena soon with Diana Shnaider (12) taking on Ajla Tomljanovic, then Margaret Court Arena will welcome Casper Ruud (6) and Jakub Mensik at 7pm.

There are four singles matches in play on the outside courts, all of which have been suspended because of rain. Djokovic v Faria under the RLA roof is the only ticket in town as the 10-time champion serves his way to a 5-2 third set lead.

Djokovic’s mood has improved significantly, and the cries of “Nolé!” reverberate around Rod Laver Arena. After Faria won the opening point of game five, Djokovic authoritatively served his way to a hold, then capitalised on a dip in form from the Portuguese to move a break up. The third set is now on the veteran’s racket.

Leylah Fernandez (30) has beaten Cristina Bucsavs in three sets. She will face Coco Gauff or Jodie Burrage in round three.

Djokovic dumps a routine backhand into the net to allow Faria to hold at 2-2 in the third set. The Serbian immediately gesticulates to the heavens and begins chuntering to nobody in particular. Then he receives a time violation before his first serve of the fifth game. That game starts with Faria taking a static ball on the baseline and wrapping a backhand crosscourt winner with supreme confidence.

Djokovic is simmering. Watch out Andy!

Play has resumed on Rod Laver Arena, now in indoor-mode. The delay benefited Faria, who was starting to lose focus, but returns to hold serve.

As the match ticks over the two hour mark, we’re 1-1 in the third set and Djokovic is beginning to look irritable.

The odd spot of rain has been falling on Melbourne Park for half-an-hour or so, but now it’s coming down at a rate to bother officials. There will be a minor delay on RLA as the roof closes and floodlights blink into life, while players are making their way off court elsewhere in the precinct.

Better news for Australia elsewhere with Aleksandar Vukic taking the opening set from Sebastian Korda (22).

It’s becoming a day to remember for Portuguese tennis with Nuno Borges completing his straight sets victory over Australia’s Jordan Thompson (27).

Meanwhile, way, way, way off broadway considering today’s action, France’s Benjamin Bonzi, the world number 70, has beaten Italy’s Francesco Passaro, the world number 105, in four sets.

Bonzi will face 24th seed Jiří Lehečka in the next round.

… he only needs two! Brilliant from Faria, pushing Djokovic backwards with his power then executing a sublime sliced forehand drop shot to level the match at one set apiece. This is the first time the 21-year-old qualifier has ever made the main draw of a grand slam but he looks to the manor born. His Challenger Tour record suggests he’s a clay court specialist, but there’s a serve-volley weapon in there if he can unlock it.

For the second match in a row Djokovic is not having things all his own way against an opponent that – on paper – should be a routine easybeat.

Superb serving and Faria has three sets points to level the match…

Faria moves a break up in the tiebreak by virtue of another long rally, one ending with a superb volley at the net. You can see the Portuguese being a serious weapon at Wimbledon with hands like that and such a powerful serve.

Djokovic survives a set point on his serve to send the second set into a tiebreak. Faria is doing well to extend plenty of points, with Djokovic unfamiliarly cautious during these prolonged rallies.

There is now a spot of rain around Melbourne Park. Not enough to force players off just yet, but it would be little surprise to see the roofs closed on the stadium courts.

Another Australian falls two sets to love down, this time James Duckworth at the hands of Roberto Carballés Baena.

Djokovic holds to level the second set at 5-5. The winning point is the point of the match, and will be one of the highlights of the tournament, lasting 29 shots, the final clutch of those with both men nose to nose at the net.

There follows an odd exchange with Djokovic complaining at the sudden introduction of the floodlights on Rod Laver Arena (the roof is open). The umpire offers to turn them back off, which duly happens.

Bit of a misjudgement there from tournament organisers, not waiting to the end of the set to change the match conditions, and do so without informing the players.

Murray and Djokovic can breathe a little easier. Consecutive games to love, including an impressive break, have the second set back on serve. Faria didn’t look comfortable trying to serve out for the set, opening with a double fault and chucking in a soft unforced error in amongst Djokovic’s defensive brilliance.

Is this a golden age of Portuguese tennis? Nuno Borges is now two sets up on Jordan Thompson (27).

As Faria holds comfortably to move up 5-2 against Djokovic, the camera pans to an impassive Andy Murray courtside. The Scotsman is presumably preparing his response to receiving his first tirade as the Serbian’s coach.

… although, Djokovic has been broken twice in the second set to trail 2-4 to 21-year-old Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria. The Serbian cruised to the opening set.

Tomas Machac (26) has withstood the barrage of aces from Reilly Opelka to squeeze into round three in five sets, securing an all important break in the decider.

The 6’11” Opelka fired 40 aces and won 102 of 115 points behind his first serve, but it is the mixed doubles gold medallist from Paris that is through to the third round and a likely meeting with Novak Djokovic.

Naomi Osaka has the deciding set on her racket, forging a break ahead of Karolina Muchova (20).

Couple of pieces of bad news for home fans with Jordan Thompson (27) dropping the opening set to Nuno Borges, and James Duckworth doing likewise against Roberto Carballés Baena.

Plenty of chat on the world feed commentary of the Djokovic match about how slow Rod Laver Arena is playing at present. This is a consequence of the rain earlier in the week, and the overcast humidity today.

More familiar sunshine and heat will return to Melbourne Park on Saturday, with a four day stretch of temperatures in the 30s.

Novak Djokovic (7) took time to ease into his work but the ten-time champion has figured out his big-serving opponent, taking the opening set against Jaime Faria 6-1.

Jiri Lehecka (24) is through to the third round after Hugo Gaston retired midway through the second set. The Czech was up 6-3 3-1.

The story of Alcaraz’s victory was all about his serve. Not usually the recipient of many cheap points, the Spaniard sent down 14 aces, close to his tour-best.

Two quick matches in a row, and receiving less physical punishment than usual, Alcaraz’s standing in this draw is increasing daily. Up next is the winner of Thompson v Borges.

Tomas Machac (26) survives a fourth set tiebreak (the third in a row) against the giant Reilly Opelka to send their match into a decider.

While Novak Djokovic (7) has an early break against the big serving Jaime Faria in the opening set.

After a slow start, Naomi Osaka is moving and hitting like a two-time former champion, dominating the second set against Karolina Muchova (20) to send their match into a decider.

Novak Djokovic (7) has just stepped onto Rod Laver Arena for his second round clash with Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria.

While home favourite Jordan Thompson (27) has just got underway on John Cain Arena against another Portuguese, Nuno Borges. The winner of that contest has the unenviable task of taking on Carlos Alcaraz in round three.

Former champion Naomi Osaka has broken Karolina Muchova (20) early in the second set as she bids to remain in the contest.

Big serving Reilly Opelka is 2-1 up in sets over Tomas Machac (26) behind a staggering 29 aces.

While Jiri Lehecka (24) has taken the opening set off Hugo Gaston.

BREAKING NEWS: Yoshihito Nishioka has won a game!

Unfortunately for the unseeded Japanese, Carlos Alcaraz has won 12. The Spanish tyro is cruising 6-0 6-1.

That’s just eight games dropped in five sets so far for the 21-year-old.

Mirra Andreeva (14) has dug deep to send her clash with Moyuka Uchijima into a final set tie-break.

Elsewhere, Karolina Muchova (20) has raced to the first set 6-1 over former champion Naomi Osaka.

And Carlos Alcaraz (3) has already broken Yoshihito Nishioka in the second set. That one could be heading for a double bagel.

Another result to update you on: Tokyo gold medallist Belinda Bencic has backed up her victory over Jelena Ostapenko by dispensing with Suzan Lamens. Bencic is returning from maternity leave and will face the winner of Muchová v Osaka in round three.

In the time it’s taken me to tie up some loose ends in the women’s singles, Carlos Alcaraz has handed Yoshihito Nishioka a bagel. The Spaniard won 12 of 13 points on his own serve and 12 of 15 on the serve of his Japanese opponent. That set took less than 20 minutes!

Carlos Alcaraz is our next headliner of the day, but before we check in on the Spanish third seed, let’s take a quick spin around the courts.

Qinwen Zheng (5) is in desperate trouble against veteran Laura Siegemund on John Cain Arena. The German will serve for the match at 5-3 in the second set.

Mirra Andreeva (14) is also struggling, on the verge of defeat to Moyuka Uchijima.

Karolina Muchova (20) has raced to a 4-0 lead over Naomi Osaka.

Reilly Opelka and Tomas Machac (26) are locked at one set apiece on serve in the third.

Watching Sabalenka’s determination today reminded me of an interview she gave here in Melbourne back in 2019. At the time she had only just grazed the top ten of the WTA Rankings, and was still two years away from reach a quarter-final at a slam, but her confidence and ambition were sky high, unabashed at declaring she wanted a calendar year grand slam on her CV. If she can figure out clay and grass, it’s hers for the taking.

Two double faults from Bouzas Maneiro and her spirited effort is beginning to fade against the world number one. Sabalenka will serve for a place in round three.

Sabalenka holds immediately after breaking to claw her way back from 1-4 to 5-5 in the second set. Bouzas Maneiro will rue failing to serve out the set when she had the opportunity, her aggression dipping a little, coinciding with Sabalenka asserting her power from the baseline. The Spaniard will do well now to resist the Belorussian’s momentum.

Thank you very much Martin. What a spectacular day of tennis this is. The scheduling has so far been lopsided, favouring the even days, like this, where we get to enjoy Sabalenka, then Alcaraz, Djokovic, and Gauff, all in quick succession.

My attention will remain on the women’s number one seed, for now, who has just broken back against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, but remains in a second set dogfight.

Jonathan Howcroft will take the reins for the next few hours but here is the current state of play in the main singles matches across Melbourne Park.

Laura Siegemund leads Qinwen Zheng (7) by 7-6(3), 2-0 on JCA.

Tomas Machac has fought back to take the second set in a tie-breaker in a suddenly even contest with Reilly Opelka. The score for the American stands at 6-3, 6-7(1), 1-1.

And we’re into a deciding set on court 3 as Moyuka Uchijima pulls back the second to make the scoreline 4-6, 6-3, 1-1 against Mirra Andreeva (14).

But the main interest is on RLA where Jessica Bouzas Maneiro is serving to take the second set from Aryna Sabalenka (1) at 5-3.

The tables have turned on RLA as Jessica Bouzas Maneiro breaks Aryna Sabalenka then holds serve to take a 4-1 lead in the second set. The No 1 seed is still making too many errors but that is due in part to Bouzas Maneiro’s consistency and confidence from the baseline.

After both players had their issues with holding serve in the opening set, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro start the second set doing just that. The reigning champion serves at 6-3, 1-2.

Olga Danilović has one foot in the third round as the Serbian leads Liudmila Samsonova 6-1, 5-2. The No 25 seed will serve to stay in the match.

It’s all heating up on JCA as Laura Siegemund stuns Qinwen Zheng in a tie-breaker. Too many errors proved costly for the No 5 seed as the German veteran wins the first set 7-6(3).

Aryna Sabalenka is hardly having it all her own way but holds serve to win the first set against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3 in 44 minutes. The Belarusian edged the set with 16-9 winners but both players will want to step up their service games from here.

Jessica Pegula claims the first set from Elise Mertens 6-4 on MCA, but there is a tighter contest over on JCA where Qinwen Zheng and Laura Siegemund are heading to a tie-breaker.

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro has put up a brave fight so far on RLA but Aryna Sabalenka is firing now. The Spaniard is serving to stay in the set after the world No 1 pushes out to a 5-2 lead. But can Bouzas Maneiro hold serve for the first time today?

A mini-upset is brewing on Kia Arena as Olga Danilović wins the first set against Liudmila Samsonova 6-1 in under half an hour. The No 25 seed has then taken an early 2-1 lead in the second set after immediately breaking the Serbian.

No 14 women’s seed Mirra Andreeva has taken the first set from Moyuka Uchijima 6-4. The teenager’s serve is up and running with five aces to none in the first set while Andreeva is also on top 16-6 for winners.

Neither player can hold serve in a somewhat surprisingly tense encounter on RLA. Bouzas Maneiro again takes Sabalenka to deuce but this time takes to game quickly off an error from the world No 1 then a forehand winner by the Spaniard. Much of this match is being decided by whether or not Sabalenka lands her shots though. Sabalenka leads the first set 3-2 with Bouzas Maneiro to serve.

Over on 1573 Arena, and Reilly Opelka has taken only 25 minutes to claim the first set from Tomas Machac 6-3. The American sent down nine aces and hit a top speed of 219km/h to win 18/20 first serves in a blistering start.

Aryna Sabalenka breaks Jessica Bouzas Maneiro for a second time in as many service games, this time to 15, as the 22-year-old Spaniard’s serve already looms as the main issue against the Belarusian powerhouse.

Aryna Sabalenka breaks Jessica Bouzas Maneiro to 30 at the first attempt but the Spaniard bounces back immediately. Bouzas Maneiro pulls away to a 0-30 lead following a pair of unforced errors from Sabalenka, then takes the game to deuce and four break-back points – the third from a huge confidence booster with a sublime cross-court forehand winner. The world No 54 brings out a backhand winner to finally finish off the game and put the first set back on serve.

Jessica Pegula is up against Elise Mertens on Margaret Court Arena with the first few games quickly going to serve. Mertens leads the No 7 seed 2-1.

Aryna Sabalenka with a typically dominant start as the reigning women’s single champion holds serve to 15 against Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro are finishing their warm-up on RLA with the roof now open in a sign of confidence that the rain has passed. The world No 1 breezed into the second round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Sloane Stephens. Tennis reporter Tumaini Carayol could hardly have been more impressed.

Over the next fortnight, Sabalenka will attempt to become the first woman in 26 years – since Martina Hingis – to win three consecutive Australian Open singles titles. She opened up her title defence in Melbourne with an imperious performance, dismantling the former US Open champion Stephens.

Teenage sensation and No 14 seed Mirra Andreeva is up against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima on court 3. Uchijima races through the first game to love.

Players are now warming up on the outside courts with the action to get under way shortly. Qinwen Zheng and Laura Siegemund on John Cain Arena has been the only match able start closer to the scheduled 11am, with China’s No 5 seed holding a 2-1 lead in the first set as both players hold serve early.

Now for the weather. Grey skies across southern Victoria have already left some drizzle on Melbourne Park and postponed play starting on the outside courts until 11.30am.

But the worst already seems to have passed to leave us with a muggy, overcast day but hopefully no further interruptions.

We hope you don’t venture too far from the Guardian’s inimitable Australian Open blog but will understand if you want to pop out for a sneak peek at AO Animated.

Our reporter on the ground at Melbourne Park, Jack Snape, describes AO Animated as “near-live, commentated coverage of the Australian Open, free to anyone across the world via YouTube, enhanced via a stream of comments from a like-minded online community”.

It was a special night for tennis’s glamour couple as Australia’s Alex De Minaur brushed aside Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 in 142 minutes all while having one eye on the score at the neighbouring Kia Arena. De Minaur’s fiancé, Katie Boulter, had to work harder to progress to the second round but eventually sealed her place in Australian Open history for Great Britain.

You want to be focusing on your own match, then all of a sudden you see the results of Katie’s match,” De Minaur said. “You try not to pay too much attention and focus on yourself, but the sheer fact that it’s always coming around, it makes it difficult.