Djokovic gets his younger opponent on the move and then sweetly plants the ball in behind him.

What a point! Between them the pair cover every inch of the court, Alcaraz digging deep as Djokovic sends him side to side; the Serb goes for a winner down the line with Alcaraz seemingly pinned to the other side of the court, but the 22-year-old’s athleticism is unmatched and he gets there, landing a forehand winner into the open court.

An ace down the T brings up 40-15... and another unreturnable serve keeps him in the set.

Djokovic, seemingly running out of ideas, goes for the drop shot early in the rally - and successfuly lobs the Spaniard, who manages to dig it out but can only send into the net.

A couple of unforced errors apiece bring up 30-30 but Alcaraz gets back on top with a huge serve out wide and tidily places his next shot into the opposite corner.

Djokovic nets, and Alcaraz backs up his break.

Djokovic double faults on the opening point and it gives Alcaraz some belief as he hunts the break. The sight of 0-30 offers him more encouragement.

Alcaraz goes long on the backhand but he will have two break points as Djokovic looked to find the backhand down the line and pushes out.

Djokovic, sent running out wide to the forehand, hits out on the crosscourt strike! Is he running out of gas? Alcaraz breaks to lead the third set.

The level is hotting up. Alcaraz thumps a forehand to send Djokovic chasing, as he looked to step up his own hitting. Big hold from Alcaraz, from that moment of magic at the start of the game.

ALCARAZ MAGIC! Djokovic somehow raced out wide to hit a backhand AROUND THE NET POST and down the line, a certain winner against any other player than this wonderful Spaniard. Alcaraz races back, stretches, and flicks his forehand into the open court from behind the baseline.

This is the challenge Djokovic is up against as he chases history.

That’s better from Djokovic. It’s been a while since he blasted the ball past Alcaraz from the baseline but he finds back-to-back down the line winners, from the forehand and then the backhand, to move to 40-0.

A love hold. Much needed.

Stunning from Alcaraz! He is starting to bring his magic as he produces the backhand pass, with Djokovic closing the net.

From the first set, dominated by Djokovic, Alcaraz is now able to move the ball around the court. Djokovic fires out against a jumping Alcaraz second serve.

Djokovic holds and hangs on. Alcaraz was jumping around the baseline hunting the chance, but nets on the forehand.

Djokovic emerges from his toilet break, with a long time between points, and continues to slump. Another error brings up 0-30 and an immediate chance for Alcaraz.

What a point! Djokovic drop shots and then forced Alcaraz to produce the lob-tweener from behind the baseline, that forces Djokovic into making the volley!

Djokovic then slumps a forehand into the net. Deuce.

Alcaraz is unhappy with the roof situation. It’s only partially closed on the Rod Laver Arena, but they have now closed it a bit more before the start of the third.

Alcaraz speaks to his box and then asks to see the tournament referee for some clarification while Djokovic is off court taking a toilet break.

The conditions in Melbourne are cold, gusty, and there were showers earlier in the day with the chance of more. Alcaraz would like the roof to be open when possible.

Tournament chief Craig Tiley is on his phone speaking to someone about the situation.