Tumaini Carayol reports on Djokovic’s win:

Epic is an overused word, especially in tennis, but that was epic. Dominic Thiem was nearly blasted off the court by the home hope Nick Kyrgios earlier today, but from two sets and 15-40 down in the first game of the third set, the Austrian world No 3 somehow gathered himself, and battled back for a dramatic five-set triumph.

Iga Swiatek, the French Open champion, saw off Fiona Ferro in straight sets in the women’s singles, before the injured world No 1, Novak Djokovic, found a way to clinch a deciding set against the American Taylor Fritz despite a serious-looking side injury. The Serb was in a lot of pain, and although he chose not to expand on that too much in his post-match interview, he said he regards today’s result as “a one-off” and “one of the best moments I’ve had in my career.” We saw something special today. Thanks for reading, and see you next time.

Here is some post-day five reading from Jonathan Howcroft on the Kyrgios v Thiem epic:

It’s the 14th time that the world No 1, Djokovic, has made it into the last 16 in Melbourne:

Fritz survives the match point - Djokovic went for a spectacular forehand winner to finish the contest, but put it in the net. Fritz then finds a fantastic wide serve for his own advantage, but Djokovic saves it with a great forehand winner and fashions another match point ...

A cracking winner down the line from Djokovic. Ivanisevic applauds from up in the stand. 30-30 on Fritz’s serve ... and now it’s to deuce. Fritz dumps a backhand into the net and it’s a first match point for the Serb.

Djokovic holds! It’s 5-2 and he’s a game away from grinding out victory, despite being in a lot of obvious discomfort. If Fritz thought the final set against an ailing Djokovic was a foregone conclusion, his opponent has shown him something different.

Lajovic v Zverev, Thiem v Dimitrov and Auger-Alliassme v Karatsev are the confirmed fourth-round ties in the men’s singles. The third round continues, behind closed doors, tomorrow.

Stunning! Djokovic breaks and leads 4-2 in the final set. It’s difficult to work out the extent of Djokovic’s side injury, but he is moving well just about now, if not with his usual fluency. It will be interesting to hear what he has to say about it afterwards.

Meanwhile, back on court, Djokovic holds his serve for 3-2 in the final set. And now he has Fritz at 30-30 ... and a break point for Djokovic!

The confirmed women’s singles fourth-round matches confirmed so far are as follows: Hsieh v Vondrousova, Muguruza v Osaka, Sabalenka v Williams, Swiatek v Halep.

Fritz hits a clean backhand winner to the corner which just kisses the baseline. Djokovic permits himself a smile. Djokovic then has a slice of luck of his own with a big forehand that clips the net but lands in court. The Serb then audibly groans in pain as he tries to chase down a wide shot by Fritz. Fritx holds for 2-2.

Djokovic fires straight back, holds easily, and it’s 2-1 to the world No 1 in the final set.

Fritz holds for 1-1 in the fifth and final set.

After her win against Anastasia Potapova earlier, Serena Williams spoke to the media about the looming lockdown:

“It’s rough. It’s going to be a rough few days for I think everyone,” Williams said of the new restrictions. “But we’ll hopefully get through it. It’s not ideal. It’s been really fun to have the crowd back, especially here. It’s been really cool. But at the end of the day we have to do what’s best. Hopefully it will be all right. I think basically we just go to the tennis, to the hotel. I’m not sure. I would imagine that would be it. I’ve been doing that for 20 years, so I think I’ve been pretty much quarantining for my whole career.”

It’s deuce in the first game of set. Djokovic drops his racquet and complains about something - I don’t know what - after Fritz makes it deuce. But then, the world No 1 winds up a couple of huge forehands, and takes the game. It’s 1-0.

The Serb Djokovic holds serve for 5-4, and carries out a few stretches before facing Fritz’s serve. The American, who hails from California, may be about to find himself 2-2 in sets with the world No 1.

This is a very relevant point from Elaine Simpson-Long on Twitter:

Djokovic appears to be much more comfortable on his backhand, but is maybe moving a bit more freely on the forehand side, too. However, Fritz holds his serve easily to make it 5-3, despite his first double fault of the match. Djokovic must serve to stay in this fourth set.

Djokovic holds to trail 4-3 in the fourth against the world No 31. The lockdown in the state of Victoria begins in 15 minutes. Strange times and no mistake.

The fans have all gone home and we are back in business. Fritz holds to love, to go 4-2 up in the fourth set. He still needs to win two sets against one of the greatest players in history. But, that player currently looks to be struggling badly with a side strain or muscle pull of some sort. He runs down a lob by Djokovic and smacks a forehand winner with Djokovic stranded.

Any thoughts on this current situation, or today’s action in general? Did you catch Thiem’s epic win over Kyrgios earlier? Email me here or tweet @LukeMcLaughlin. Eurosport are filling time with some studio chat. I think I’ll have a cup of tea.

The umpire was halfway through an announcement, telling the crowd that they have to be ‘home by 11.59’, when Eurosport cut to an advert break. So presumably, play is now suspended until all the fans leave? This is going to descend into farce, if it hasn’t already. And yes indeed. Play is suspended. All the fans have been asked to leave. They have been told that play is suspended until the arena is empty, but a number of fans are refusing to leave. It seems now that the vast majority are leaving but there are plenty of boos ringing out. Djokovic is probably grateful for an extra rest. Up in the stands, Goran Ivanisevic, one of Djokovic’s coaches, is glued to his mobile phone. He can stay.

Out on the court, Djokovic is still struggling, and looks to be particularly uncomfortable on his forehand side. He dumps an easy volley into the net. Is he going to retire? That was not a shot that was anywhere close to what you expect from a world No 1.

Fritz breaks! He leads 2-1 in the fourth, but trails 2-1 in sets. Now, presumably, all the fans are going to be asked to leave? During the earlier match between Thiem and Kyrgios, we were told that all the fans would be obliged to leave the venue by 11.30pm Melbourne time, which is 29 minutes before the lockdown kicks in at 11.59. The commentator on Eurosport speculates that the the fans will be allowed to stay ‘for another two games at least’ in this fourth set.

Will all the fans be breaking the law if they try to stay?

Back in the men’s singles and Taylor Fritz, the American, has his tail up against the world No 1 Novak Djokovic, who has some sort of to his side, and is not moving comfortably at all. Djokovic won the first two sets, 7-5, 6-4, before taking a medical time out in the third set, which was subsequently won 6-3 by Fritz.

At deuce, Djokovic shouts over at his trainers, looking really agitated, but wins the next point for advantage in the first game of the fourth set. But then he sends a forehand long and we’re back to deuce.

This Covid-19 lockdown is drawing ever closer. It officially begins in 45 minutes. The fans have apparently been told to make their way home (although that happened during an advert break so I didn’t hear the announcement). Lots of fans are staying, which is evidenced by the fact that they are shouting before a Djokovic serve.

“I shouldn’t have to keep saying this,” says the umpire, as he asks them to pipe down.

Swiatek is now serving for the match against Ferro, 5-2 up in the second.

Swiatek saves that break, then takes the game, and assumes a 4-2 lead in the second set and looks on course.

Djokovic has gone for a bit more treatment on this muscle problem.

Swiatek, meanwhile, is facing a break point against Ferro at 3-2 in the second set. But she finds a big first serve, and takes it to deuce.

Djokovic is two sets up - but appears to have a problem. He has called for the trainer as he seems to have a muscle injury of some sort, possibly an intercostal muscle by his ribs?

In the third set, the world No 1 Djokovic is locked at 3-3 with Taylor Fritz. He certainly doesn’t appear to be moving freely.

Swiatek is 3-2 up on Ferro now in the second set, having won the first set 6-4.

Thiem will face Grigor Dimitrov in the next round. “I’m looking forward to it,” he says. And there you go. Over to Djokovic for a while then ... I hope they’ll be showing some of Swiatek’s match against Ferro soon.

Thiem is asked what he was thinking at 2-0 and 15-40 down in the third set: “I was already dealing with the loss, you know, it was first of all [my] first match against Nick on his favourite court, with an amazing crowd ... there are easier things to do [laughs]. That’s for sure one of the tougher challenges we have in our sport, you never know what’s coming, he is a huge player when he is on fire like today. Honestly, I was dealing with the loss already but then somehow I was fighting myself into the match ... since the US Open, I know that impossible is nothing.

“Giving up is never an option. There is always a chance. I was so close to losing it. If he breaks me in the first game of the third, the match is over. But I was fighting still, and with the break in the third, I realised maybe there was a chance to turn it around. I got more used to his game, and to the court, and to the great atmosphere, and the longer the match got, the more comfortable I felt.”

“I always prefer playing in front of a crowd, even if they are not for me ... obviously they are for the local hero, there is nothing wrong with that, so I had to accept it, and I still prefer that way more than to play in front of an empty stadium. Unfortunately the next match will be empty, and I think everybody is really sad about it, but tonight was epic, a good last match before the lockdown.”

Thiem takes the next point easily for 30-15, but Kyrgios isn’t done yet, and grinds out another point for 30-30 ... But Thiem keeps the pressure on with yet another strong first serve, down the middle, and it’s match point Thiem. The noise of the crowd is increasingly deafening, even with the home hope seeming to be going down in a blaze of glory.

Three gynormous forehands by Kyrgios and he crushes Thiem into submission for 15-15. Possibly the biggest roar of the night emanates from the home crowd. They are willing their man to somehow find a break ...

A comfortable hold for Kyrgios - yet again. Thiem will serve for the match. The new Covid-19 lockdown in Victoria, which is set to last for five days, begins in less than an hour and a half. But the show must go on at the tennis - albeit without the fans.

Another dominant backhand by Thiem and he holds serve to love yet again. It is 5-3. Thiem has held to love 11 times in this match. He really was on the ropes - and was nearly broken in the third set, at 15-40 down. But he seems to have found a way.

Swiatek and Ferro are 4-4 in the first set in their women’s singles match.

Djokovic, the world No1, is now two sets up on Fritz: 7-6, 6-4.

Thiem breaks! It’s 4-3 to the Austrian in the fifth. Kyrgios managed to save one break point but couldn’t save the next. Thiem seems to be starting to wear him down. Could that be the decisive game in this fifth set? Can Kyrgios raise himself for another huge effort?

A massive cross-court backhand by Thiem after a long rally and he has a break point. Kyrgios booms a superb wide serve, Thiem manages to get it back, Kyrgios rushes to the net, and Thiem misses a shot down the line for a break. Back to deuce. This is engrossing stuff.

Thiem crushes a looping forehand top-spin winner that catches the line - just - and it’s 30-30. A glimpse of a chance for the Austrian.

Kyrgios fires back, immediately, with a fantastic pass, but Thiem finds a lovely drop shot that his opponent can’t chase down, and it’s deuce, the first deuce game of the final set.

Nearly 25,000 fans attended the Australian Open today.

Meanwhile, Thiem holds and it’s 3-3. The fans are getting booted out in just over an hour, come what may.

A brilliant serve-volley by Krygios. Thiem is standing a loooong way back on the Australian’s first serve, so the underarm serve - or a booming big first serve and then coming to the net - both seem to work well. The Australian takes the game and leads 3-2 in the fifth set. He continues to pick the odd verbal joust with the umpire.

In the women’s singles Ferro has fought back to 3-3 with Swiatek.

Djokovic is 4-3 up on Fritz in the second set of their men’s singles.

Someone in the crowd strikes up with an “Aussie Aussie Aussie!” to try and get their man going. Thiem wins with fourth game of the fourt set, awarded the final point for hindrance, after Kyrgios made a noise during the rally, having thought he’d sent a shot long.

“So Azarenka’s grunt is fine, but that’s not fine?” objects Kyrgios to the umpire. That seems deeply odd, to bring Victoria Azarenka into it ...

Anyway, it’s 2-2.

“There is nothing more interesting than two players who genuinely believe they ‘should’ win a match, this is one of those games,” emails Nicolaas Van den Broek. “No inferiority/superiority complexes, just uncompromising focus to achieve an end. I think we have a classic on our hands here ... I’m wildly predicting an appropriate Kyrgios ‘between the legs’ or the Thiem ‘backhand cross-court stunner for the match-point winner as an appropriate end, thoughts?”

A hold to love for Kyrgios, including one phenomenally well-judged drop shot. The crowd is up again. It’s 2-1 in the fifth, with serve.

Kyrgios sends a sumptuous volley into the corner for 15-15 but Thiem takes control again and holds comfortably. “Too good,” admits Kyrgios. It’s 1-1 in the fifth and final set.

Kyrgios holds to love. He then sprints into position for the start of the second game of the final set. He’s trying to gee himself up for another big push.

Swiatek, the French Open champion from Poland, is 3-0 up on Ferro in the first set of their third-round women’s singles match.

Angry Kyrgios is suddenly effective Kyrgios, and he forces a break point having handed the first point of this game to his opponent after smashing a ball away in disgust. But he sends a forehand long, and it’s back to deuce.

In a fit of pique, Kyrgios smashes a ball away, and is punished with a point by the umpire, so he goes into this important game trailing 15-0 already.

Whoah! Great stuff from Thiem. He breaks, he leads 5-4, and will serve to make it 2-2 in sets.

Djokovic won the first-set tiebreak easily against Fritz, 7-1, and now leads 2-1 in the second. Swiatek has just begun her match against the Frenchwoman Ferro.

Thiem has his opponent at 15-40 but Kyrgios fights back to deuce. Kyrgios tries another utterly random ‘tweener’ with the point at his mercy. He misses by a long way. He loses the next point and it’s break point for Thiem after a cracking return.

Sabu Cherian emails from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India: “If you are a fan of Nick Kyrgios, watching him play is a little bit like watching Rishabh Pant bat. You don’t know what’s gonna happen next ... It is the element of eccentricity and unpredictability that he brings to the sport that keeps people glued to the TV, and the ones in the stands cheering him.”

There are very few, if any, masks on show among this lively crowd, which is odd when you consider the Covid-19 situation is considered serious enough to be going into a hard lockdown in just over two hours’ time.

Meanwhile, Thiem is serving at 4-3 to Kyrgios. The Austrian digs out a stunning cross-court winner for 40-0 and then wraps up the game. That’s 36 out of 37 points on serve - 10 of the last 14 service games have been held to love. It’s 4-4.

It’s 4-3 in the fourth. Kyrgios finds plenty of rhythm with his own serve, and holds to love.

Thiem holds for 2-2 - again to love - and has now won 27 points in a row on his own serve. The rallies are getting longer which is playing into Thiem’s hands so far.

Kyrgios answers back with a hold of his own, and leads 3-2 in the fourth.

Djokovic is into a first-set tiebreak with against Taylor Fritz. Meanwhile Auger Alliassime has wrapped up a straight-sets win against Shapovalov, 7-5, 7-5, 6-3.

Kyrgios holds for 2-1 in games, and leads 2-1 in sets.

“Kyrgios has said that it is important for him to have fun on court,” emails Thomas Traill. “Perhaps playing the odd unnecessary trick shot helps him relax and play better overall.”

Thanks for the email Thomas. Perhaps - although it looked to me more like a lack of concentration rather than a tactic to try and loosen himself up. You’re fundamentally right though, of course, Kyrgios looks at his best when he can play to the crowd and pull off a few trick shots. Any player that seals a set with an underarm serve ace against the world No 3 is obviously a natural showman.

Kyrgios runs down a Thiem drop shot, hits a winner, and then embarks on a celebratory knee-pumping run into Thiem’s half of the court. The crowd roar. It’s 1-1 with Kyrgios looking likely to hold for 2-1 in the fourth.

Set-by-set, unforced errors by Kyrgios have gone 11-3-10, and now he has made eight unforced errors in this fourth set already. He does look to be tiring. Thiem, by the way, has now won 24 points in a row on his serve, since being 15-40 down in the first game of the third. Astonishing!

If you’re just joining us - the news is that Victoria is going into a five-day hard lockdown as of 11.59pm tonight. Which means the fans all have to leave by 11.30pm latest, which is in just over two hours’ time. As things stand, play will continue as normal throughout the five-day lockdown.

Kyrgios leads 1-0 in the fourth, having saved two break points in that last game, which was the longest of the match.

This is turning into a marathon game, with some marathon rallies. Thiem saves another game point with a beautiful drop. Another advantage for Kyrgios, and he tries an underarm serve, which Thiem runs down before winning the point. And now back to advantage for Kyrgios after a booming serve that Thiem can’t get back.

Thiem takes Kyrgios to deuce on the Australian’s serve in the first. A marathon rally, with advantage to Kyrgios, then ends with the home favourite sending a forehand wide ... and now it’s advantage Thiem after another unforced error by Krygios. He is visibly losing focus. He now seems to be complaining to the umpire about the crowd noise - ‘People are just screaming out’ - having done his best to whip them up into a frenzy.

Game on, indeed.

A beautifully judged drop shot by the Aussie sets up 40-0 and he holds for 5-3. Thiem will serve for third set.

Djokovic, meanwhile, is 4-2 up on Fritz in the first.

The French Open champion, Iga Swiatek, is in action soon against world No 46 Fiona Ferro in the women’s singles. Swiatek is ranked No 17 in the world.

Thiem digs out a brilliant one-handed backhand from right on his toes on the baseline, before coming to the net and winning the point and the game for 5-2 in the third. That’s 16 unanswered points now on Thiem’s serve.

It’s 4-2 to Thiem in the third as Kyrgios holds.

The raucous home crowd were on the feet when Kyrgios made it 2-0 in sets a few minutes ago. They are a little quieter now in the face of this fightback by the Austrian. Kyrgios looked on the verge of getting a break up in this third set, but Thiem has found something from somewhere.

Kyrgios butchers a forehand return high and wide. “Yeah, good return Nick, well done,” he tells himself loudly, to laughter from the crowd. Thiem holds serve comfortably for 4-1 and the momentum is very much with him.

Men’s singles: The Canadian 14th seed Milos Raonic survived a mid-match wobble to beat Hungarian Marton Fucsovics 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.

Thiem leads 3-0 in the third! From 15-40 down in the opening game of the set, Thiem hasn’t lost a point. He looked all at sea - no, he was all at sea - but he has finally grabbed some momentum back from his opponent and the crowd has quietened down. At least for now.

Djokovic leads 2-1 in the first against Fritz.

Thiem breaks! He leads 2-0 in the third, but trails by two sets to love. Kyrgios gets a warning from the umpire, although I didn’t see for what, possibly an obscenity? The organisers were no doubt hoping that the Australian would wrap this up in straight sets, negating any risk of having to boot the fans out in about two-and-a-half hours ...

From the wires:

Unknown Russian Aslan Karatsev caused a major shock at the Australian Open when he destroyed eighth seed Diego Schwartzman in straight sets. The 27-year-old qualifier, ranked 114 in the world and playing at his first grand slam, stunned Argentinian ace Schwartzman 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 on the John Cain Arena. Including qualifying Karatsev has now played six matches at the tournament and dropped only one set. And he showed nerves of steel as he closed out the match of his life with an ace down the middle. Karatsev suffered a serious knee injury in training in 2017 which kept him out for six months. He was a member of Russia’s triumphant ATP Cup team last week, as a doubles player, but did not play a live match due to the form of singles stars Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev. Karatsev said: “I had a big injury on my knee but after two years I recovered. The ATP Cup was great, we have unbelievable players in Daniil and Andrey, and it gave me a lot of confidence when we won.”

To say Thiem’s body language is negative is an understatement. His head is down and his shoulders are slumped. Kyrgios saves the break point and then fashions an advantage, but then it’s back to deuce again.

The world No 1 Novak Djokovic is warming up for his third-round men’s singles match against Taylor Fritz. Thiem, meanwhile, has Kyrgios at 15-30 on the Aussie’s serve for the first time in the match. It’s soon 30-30 ... but now [breaking news] Thiem has a break point for the first time!

Kyrgios finds a phenomenal down-the-line return. He has another break point and in the first game of the third set. Kyrgios dumps a shot into the net, and it’s back to deuce. Thiem then finds a brilliant backhand half-volley winner. “That’s a hell of a shot,” says Kyrgios. And now Thiem saves his serve and leads 1-0 in the third.

Kyrgios smashes an ace for 15-0 and greets it with a guttural roar that is reciprocated by the crowd. “He looks beaten, Thiem,” observes the commentator as the Austrian sends a forehand long. It’s 40-0. Thiem is all over the place here.

Wow! Thiem saves a second break point, but Kyrgios is all over him in the next point - Thiem tries to pass him down the line but it goes long. It’s a third break point at 4-4 and Kyrgios indulges in yet more theatrics ... and he breaks! The crowd goes wild. It’s 5-4 to the Australian in the second set and he will be serving for a 2-0 lead in sets. Did you see this coming?

At 30-30 on Thiem’s serve, there is a let played and the crowd moan ... and Kyrgios gets a break point! 30-40! This is huge. The Aussie flags wave. Kyrgios celebrates and whips the crowd up into a frenzy. But Thiem saves the break point with a smart drop shot. Thiem badly needed that and he delivered. But he needs to find a lot more consistency is he is going to win this. And he dumps a forehand into the net! It’s another break point!

Thiem holds for 4-3. Kyrgios storms to 40-0 on his serve and ends the game with a good serve down the middle which Thiem can’t get back. The next few minutes are going to have a massive impact on the match. It’s 4-4 in the second with Thiem serving.

In the women’s singles, the No 2 seed Halep has finished off her match against Kudermetova, 6-1, 6-3, after a second-set fightback by the Russian.

Just a reminder: the Australian state of Victoria is entering a hard five-day lockdown from 11.59pm tonight. The time is now 8.26pm, and the fans packed into the John Caine Arena have been told they have to leave at 11.30pm. If this match is ongoing at that point, which is a distinct possibility, there are going to be some unhappy tennis fans. The whole situation is bizarre and Covid-19 continues to impact on normality (if such a thing exists any more) at every turn.

Thiem holds for 3-2 in the second set. He’s yet to force a break point in the match, which tells you about the dominance Kyrgios has established in the early stages.

The Austrian grimaces and scratches his head, visibly unable to feel comfortable in the face of his onslaught from the Australian. It’s now 3-3 in the second after a comfortable hold for Kyrgios.

Kudermetova is fighting back against Halep. It’s 3-3 in the second set after Halep took the first 6-1.

Ever the showman, Kyrgios sends a trademark under-arm serve which Thiem sprints for, but can’t get back. The Australian gees the crowd up. He holds serve for 2-2. Thiem isn’t able to stamp his authority on this match in any way, shape of form - not yet, anyway.

Thiem saves the break point, then wins advantage, but coughs up a poor volley which goes long and it’s back to deuce, 1-1 in the second set. Then a HUGE forehand winner by Thiem brings another advantage, but Kyrgios fires his own huge winner down the line and it’s back to deuce again. Nervy times for Thiem ... but he eventually holds and leads 2-1 in the second set against his fired-up opponent.

A massive stroke of luck for the Aussie to make it 15-30 on the Thiem serve as a double-handed backhand return catches the net and flops over on Thiem’s side of the court. Kyrgios holds his hand up to apologise. Thiem wins the next point in style, opening up the court to his forehand side then smashing a cross-court winner with his opponent out of position. But then he sends another shot into the net and Kyrgios has a break point! 30-40!

It’s 1-1 in the second set after Kyrgios holds to love. A few minutes ago, there was an announcement over the public address system to remind all the fans that they will be booted out of the arena before midnight come what may. Everyone booed.

Elsewhere, Fucsovics v Raonic is into a fourth set. 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 and now 0-0. Auger Alliassme is serving for the set at 6-5 against Shapalov.

Kyrgios holds for 5-3. Thiem looks a little shocked at the intensity with which his opponent has started this match. But he produces a lovely drop shot at the net for 30-15, then a booming first serve for 40-15. It feels like he’s trying to slow everything down a bit, quieten the crowd and start to play this match on his own terms a bit more. It’s 5-4 and Kyrgios will serve for the first set.

Thiem holds. The world No 3 and third seed trails 4-3 in the first against the Aussie Kyrgios, who is ranked 47 in the world. Kyrgios has come out all guns blazing, but can he stay on top?

Halep takes the first set 6-1 against Kudermetova.

Kyrgios leads 4-2 in the first. He tries to get on top of a Thiem second serve at 15-15 but dumps it into the net and shakes his head. The atmosphere is raucous and the fans are very much behind Kyrgios. It’s all the more bizarre when you consider Melbourne is about to be plunged into a hard lockdown. Kyrgios takes the point of the match so far, following up some incredible defence with a searing cross-court forehand that Thiem puts into the net from the baseline, for 30-30. And now it’s deuce. Thiem has his work cut out tonight.

Men’s singles results so far today:

Zverev bt Mannarino 6-3, 6-3, 6-1
Karatsev bt Schwartzmann 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
Lajovic bt Martínez 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-4
Carreno Busta retired vs. Dimitrov with Dimitrov leading 6-0 and 1-0

Kyrgios takes the fourth game and leads 3-1. Thiem finally starts to find some rhythm and send a sublime backhand down the line for 30-0 in the next game. “That’s ridiculous,” says Kyrgios. It’s 3-2 after that opening break of serve for the Australian.

Halep, meanwhile, is 5-1 up in the first and has a second set point against Kudermetova.

The new five-day Covid-19 lockdown comes into force in Victoria at 11.59pm AEDT. The time is now 19.33. The arena for Thiem v Kyrgios is not completely full, but there are thousands of fans in attendance. The commentators speculate on what happens if this turns into a five-set epic and the fans have to be kicked out as the lockdown is about to begin? It’s a pretty strange situation.

There is some banter from someone in the crowd, and initially some laughter - Kygrios laughs and shakes his head when it continues from between one point to another. Meanwhile, Thiem is on the board with a hold to love. Kyrgios leads 2-1 in the first.

Halep is on top early on against Kudermetova, a break up and serving for a 3-1 lead. Meanwhile Kyrgios has just torn into his third-round match with Thiem, breaking his opponent immediately, then starting his service game with a couple of aces. He then tries one of his cheeky underarm serves, and follows that with a ‘tweener’ which goes just wide! But no matter - Kyrgios already leads 2-0 in the first set in what feels like just a few seconds.

That symmetrical scoreline of 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in favour of Karatsev against Schwartzmann is by far the biggest win of the Russian’s career so far:

In Covid-19 news, the whole state of Victoria is heading into a hard five-day lockdown amid concern over the more infectious strain of the virus which is thought to have originated in the UK. Which means no fans anywhere at the event during that time. Play at the first grand slam tennis of the event is set to continue as scheduled, however:

What’s happened so far today? Serena Williams made it safely through with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 win against Anastasia Potapova, although not without a bit of a wobble on the way: