Sabalenka (1) 4-1 6-3 Bai* Sabalenka is making Bai work hard even on serve. She has two break points but a nice serve from Bai followed by a perfectly placed forehand right in the corner takes them to deuce. Bai saves another break point then takes advantage as Sabalenka’s forehand return soars past her. Bai holds after Sabalenka again fluffs her return. The World No 1 shouts in anger as she loses that one.

*Sabalenka (1) 4-0 6-3 Bai The sun is out in Melbourne and I just have no idea how Sabalenka plays without a cap (obviously she is very used to it, but it makes me squint just watching). The Belarusian’s serve is firing, Bai unable to make good contact for two three points in a row. Bai can forces two errors, Sabalenka shouts in frustration, it’s deuce. An ace at 152kmh gets her the advantage, no chance for Bai. And Bai can’t handle Sabalenka’s backhand down the line, sending her shot past the baseline.

Sabalenka (1) 3-0 6-3 Bai* Bai stays calm and runs in to meet Sabalenka’s first return, dropping it just over the net out of reach. The next Bai wins with a forehand right on the sideline. Sabalenka gets it back to 30-all with a monstrous backhand. Bai double faults to give away advantage and Sabalenka shows her class, breaking Bai with a dangerous forehand.

*Sabalenka (1) 2-0 6-3 Bai Bai wins the first point with a lovely volley back past Sabalenka, who then loses the second by attempting the same. Plenty of unforced errors on both sides here, Sabalenka with only a few less than Bai. Sabalenka takes advantage with an ace, back to deuce, another ace and Sabalenka ties it up with a powerful forehand crosscourt.

Sabalenka (1) 1-0 6-3 Bai* Bai is serving to start the second set. Can she keep up this energy? We are getting a bit more variety now. Sabalenka pushes Bai around the court before coming to the net and taking the point with a half-volley. At 30-30 another devent rally and Bai just can’t keep up, Sabalenka winning with a strong backhand across her body. She wraps up the game with some great shots. That was much better from the World No 1.

Sabalenka (1) 5-3 Bai* Bai looked like a different player at the end of that game (and in this one) compared to the first few. A strong first serve forces an error from Sabalenka. Bai’s serves have improved too, Sabalenka looks uncomfortable unable to move her body out of the way to return smoothly. But a lovely forehand from Sabalenka to the top corner brings them to deuce. Bai overhits a backhand across the court to give Sabalenka the first set point but its back to deuce from an unforced error.

On third deuce and Bai’s first double fault for the match gives Sabalenka second set point which she squanders. Now it’s her third go at set point but she finds the net. Fourth set point lost! Sabalenka is sending her forehands flying over the baseline.

The game is going over 10 minutes (longest by FAR). Bai wins! Her final volley hits the net but pops up and over. Sorry Sabalenka.

*Sabalenka (1) 5-2 Bai* I don’t think Sabalenka is happy to have lost a game. There is some added aggression to her and it’s resulting in her overhitting. She loses the first two points. Bai has perhaps also adjusted now to the pace of play. Sabalenka hits the net and Bai has her first break point. And she breaks Sabalenka!

Sabalenka (1) 5-1 Bai* They’ve only been playing for less than 20 minutes so far. The sixth game starts with the longest rally so far which ends with an unforced error from Bai. She rebounds nicely with an ace though, that’s her third point. Sabalenka is trying to keep coming forward but it’s not always working, as evident in her exasperation. Bai hits a second ace and then forces an error from Sabalenka at full stretch to win her first game!

*Sabalenka (1) 5-0 Bai Sabalenka goes for the serve volley and nails it, then tries again the second point and hits the net. Third go works to but it’s not seamless. She follows with a classy ace. Oh and a lovely backhand winner from Bai (first winner of the match) on return. Sabalenka responds by pushing in close and slamming down a volley just to remind everyone who is on top here.

Sabalenka (1) 4-0 Bai* Really hoping Bai can warm up and get into some sort of groove. At the moment it’s very straightforward for Sabalenka, who is smashing Bai’s serve back with disdain. The fourth game is over in three minutes. Bai is being pommelled.

*Sabalenka (1) 3-0 Bai Bai finally has a point. Sabalenka goes for a backhand across the court and it doesn’t have the height to go over. A double fault follows, then Bai hoops her return over the baseline. Even Sabalenka’s second serve is too much for Bai, who gives the third game away with two unforced errors.

Sabalenka (1) 2-0 Bai* Bai starts with a slower second serve which Sabalenka easily returns and Bai meekly hits her backhand into the net. Bai is clearly nowhere near Sabalenka’s level. The Belarusian takes the second game and Bai hasn’t got a point yet.

Beautiful conditions out on Rod Laver Arena, I can report from my desk about 40km away.

The warmup is complete. Here we go.

Sabalenka and Bai are on the court, the coin is tossed and the No 1 will serve. They will have a short on-court warmup now.

It’s Bai’s second time playing in the second round here in Melbourne.

Fashion notes: Sabalenka is in her BRIGHT orange, pink and black dress. Bai is in a classic (almost football jersey-esque) blue T-shirt, black shorts and white cap.

On to the match at hand, and Sabalenka will be hoping for a smoother run than her first-round match in which French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah provided a somewhat tricky start.

The Belarusian is, of course, a two-time Australian Open champion already, after lifting the trophy in 2023 and 2024. Last year she lost to American Madison Keys in the final.

Elsewhere around Melbourne Park, defending women’s singles champion, Madison Keys, overcame a wobbly start to defeat Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova, who was nearly successful in throwing off her opponent with her unusual style.

Tumaini Carayol took a closer look at that encounter:

And Jannik Sinner powered through to the second round after retired.

… Australia’s day three recap continued …

There were torturous late-night losses suffered by Daria Kasatkina and Kimberly Birrell, but Australia still has six women in the second round.

Nikola Bartunkova defeated Kasatkina 7-6 (7), 0-6, 6-3 in a topsy-turvy contest. And Maddison Inglis who defeated Birrell 7-6 (6), 6-7 (9), 6-4 in an all-Australian clash that lasted three hours.

But in exciting news, earlier Dane Sweeny and James Duckworth increased the count of Australian men in the second round to five. Duckworth outlasted the Croatian lucky loser Dino Prizmic in five sets by winning the last two.

Sweeny, 24, shared a compelling meeting of opposites which also marked the final appearance at Melbourne Park for the French veteran Gaël Monfils. The Australian dropped to the ground in elation after defeating the 39-year-old from France 6-7 (3), 7-5, 6-4, 7-5

Before I get into any kind of day three tennis recapping, we need to take a moment for the outfit of the day (or maybe of the tournament?).

Of course it was the one and only Naomi Osaka who completely stole the show with her entrance on to Rod Laver for the final match of the evening session.

Guardian journalist Matilda Boseley messaged me urgently about this, and summarised my feelings well.

Literally screaming crying throwing up over Osaka’s outfit. Amazing.

More players need to get around this walk-on outfit trend. Maybe Sinner could dress up as a mustard bottle.