After a somewhat muted opening to this year’s Australian Open under grey skies at Melbourne Park, today’s play is well under way in different conditions. The sun is out, and things are heating up nicely with a busy schedule of play still to get through.

Highlighting what’s left of the day session is Rafa Nadal, who gets his campaign to win a record 21st grand slam title up and running on Rod Laver Arena against Serbian Laslo Djere. Injury concerns over the Spaniard have made his opener just that bit more intriguing. More on that shortly.

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, seeded fourth and in terrific form, faces the big-serving Canadian, Vasek Pospisil, on Margaret Court Arena while home hope Alex De Minaur is still to play Tennys Sandgren on John Cain Arena, not before 4pm local time.

This evening, it’s the turn of Ash Barty to kick off her title tilt. The crowd favourite faces Danka Kovinić amid hopes she can become the first Australian to win an Open singles title on home soil since Chris O’Neil in 1978. In the men’s draw, fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas meets French old-timer Gilles Simon. Plus lots, lots more.

So let’s get into it. Feel free to get in touch on email ([email protected]) or Twitter (@mike_hytner). Ready? Play.