Novak Djokovic takes on Fernarndo Verdasco, live updates Australian Open 2017

Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are through to Round 2.

Updated: 17 January 2017 18:16 IST - Published: 17 January 2017 07:53 IST

Great Britain's Johanna Konta overcame a contest from Kirsten Flipkens to beat her 7-5, 6-2. Seeds all through for the day!

Aga Radwanska pulls it through in the end, and seals it 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 to Tsvetana Pironkova.

Agnieszka Radwanska has lost the second set to Tsvetana Pironkova 4-6. Pironkova's been a thorn in her side at Slams, and now 'Aga' is forced to a third!

Australian Open 2017: Novak Djokovic wards off the Fernando Verdasco challenge to enter Round 2

Karlovic is the third-highest of all time for most aces in a match, at 78. He could surpass that record today. The record still stands with John Isner though, who leads with 113. Right behind him is his rival in the pair's epic match - Nicolas Mahut, who has 103.

Karlovic now has 73 aces. This five hour epic against Horacio Zeballos sees no end in sight.

Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska's now on court, against an opponent who beat her the last time they met - at the French Open in 2016 - Tsvetana Pironkova!

20th seed Ivo Karlovic has scored 71 - SEVENTY ONE aces in this match.

You really have to feel for Ivo Karlovic and Horacio Zeballos here. Their match has gone on for nearly 5 hours now, and they're locked in a mammoth tiebreak in the fifth set.

And it's GAME, SET, MATCH Novak Djokovic! The defending champion wins 6-1, 7-6(4), 6-2.

Djokovic is on the verge of breaking Verdasco - and this is the big one! For the match!

Right now, the points are coming Verdasco's way more or less because of errors by Djokovic. It's feeling more and more like the Spaniard is just biding his time, waiting to finish. Djokovic is now just one game away from progressing to Round 2.

Meanwhile, Djokovic has a 4-1 lead in the third - and what looks to be the final - set. Verdasco has been a fiery, if mercurial presence here, and although he looked incredibly threatening on multiple occasions, he just was not able to build on it. Crucial errors - and perhaps his own temper - have let him down here.

Verdasco has held serve once in this match; and at 3-1, Djokovic is looking a bit tired but wanting to finish this off. Verdasco is visibly irritated here, and unfortunately that frustration translates into him netting what would've been an otherwise good return.

We've seen Novak Djokovic hit forehand drop shots before - but this time he hits it OVER Verdasco's head. He leads 3-0 now and it's looking like it's coming undone for the Spaniard here...

Third set now underway, and Djokovic straightaway takes the break to lead 2-0. One can't help but feel for Fernando Verdasco, who is visibly frustrated after an excellent attack does not go his way. He looks as though he has given up a little bit.

Fernando Verdasco commits some errors, sending a couple of shots long - and after giving Djokovic a royal scare in the second set, he loses it in the tiebreak.

Novak Djokovic leads two sets to love, 6-1, 7-6(4)

Verdasco's pushing Djokovic to the wall here, sending him running across the court with some well-placed shots. But he errs there, and sends a shot long to give Djokovic a 3-0 lead.

....wait, make that 3-1. There's another one of those rallies right there, and Verdasco has decided to make Djokovic exercise a bit more. He trails 2-3 now.

And he DOES, quickly! A speedy forehand winner to begin the tiebreak from Novak Djokovic, and he leads 1-0.

Fourth deuce - and finally, an agitated, on edge Verdasco wins that with a long shot from Novak Djokovic! He leads 6-5, with Djokovic hoping to take this to tiebreak.

That was a 214 km/h ace from Verdasco with a service game at deuce. Great stuff under pressure - let's hope he can keep it going!

Fernando Verdasco looks more than a little angry here, and he's losing his lead. Djokovic has leveled up for 5-5 , and Verdasco is sending some routine shots long.

Fernando Verdasco, take a bow. A solid fight sees him pushed to the limit, and now he leads 5-4 as Djokovic serves to stay in the set.

And it's now dead even at 4 games all. Not as one-sided as the first set, certainly, with some good stuff from Fernando Verdasco. But although he's applying the pressure on Djokovic, he's unable to hold on to leads and breaks here.

The players are now an even keel, as Verdasco leads 4-3 with Djokovic on serve. The Spaniard looked threatening early on, but right now he's missing out quite a bit. That said, Verdasco's putting quite a bit of pressure on and Djokovic is committing a number of unforced errors.

Already 25 unforced errors from Djokovic, and this is getting to be a lonnnnnng game.

Meanwhile on SC3 there's a Gael-force wind blowing!#Monfils glides past Vesely and into the 2R 6-2 6-3 6-2. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/uzFOOzBUz3
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2017

But again, he's unable to hold on. Djokovic breaks back courtesy a super wide forehand from Verdasco that goes outside the playing area entirely. He looks angry - and the game is back on serve.

Some beautiful reflex shots from Verdasco here, and he's sealing rally upon rally with drop shots. Novak Djokovic is struggling to return quite a few shots here, which is surprising - but also testament to how skilled Verdasco can be.

Some renewed fire from Fernando Verdasco here! Not enjoying being pushed to the wall in set 1, he appears to have found a momentum - and how! He takes a second break on Novak Djokovic to lead 3-1.

Verdasco hits a shot long and high - and god knows where it's gone! He leads 2-1 after Djokovic breaks back.

Straightaway Djokovic breaks back. Game's now level, with Djokovic on serve.

Djokovic has unraveled ever so slighty and it's Verdasco who takes the early break in set 2 to lead 2-0!

Verdasco's getting better and better. There's a glaring unforced error from Djokovic and that's given Verdasco break point!

The second set is now underway and Verdasco's pumped and how! He holds his first service game for a 1-0 lead.

And despite a great contest from Verdasco to pull it back, Verdasco again fails to capitalize at deuce. There's a great rally there but it's the first set to Novak Djokovic, 6-1.

And there's some beautiful athleticism from Fernando Verdasco! His shot selection has also been on point and his backhand is looking strong. The pair are at deuce now as Djokovic serves for the set.

And for the first time in this set, Verdasco holds his service game to stave off the set win for Djokovic!

The Serb leads 5-1 and will now serve for the set.

Vamos! 🇪🇸

No.21 @DavidFerrer87 takes out Aussie WC Jasika 6-3 6-0 6-2 in 1R. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/9VLOOi9kn8
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2017

Verdasco's beginning to fight back, and took the last game to deuce - but he was unable to capitalize, and now he'll want to stave off the bagel.

Verdasco will now serve to stay in the set - and he's started off with an ace down the line.

The defending champion can't put a foot wrong here! He's steamrolling past Verdasco 5-0, but don't let that completely fool you. The Spaniard showed some gumption - and a couple of great shots - in that game, including a stunning jumping backhand drop shot return that Djokovic can do little else at except marvel.

Is Verdasco already losing the plot? Djokovic is playing some really good shots here, and Verdasco's just not reaching the ball in time. He's continuing to shank balls into the net - and that gives Djokovic the double break; he's up 4-0.

Woah boy. Djokovic is utterly steamrolling through thiss set. Some beautiful shots from him and a couple of glaring shanks from Verdasco straight into the net. The Spaniard is trying every bit that he can, but Djokovic leads 3-0 up a break of serve.

And with some great cross-court hits, Djokovic challenges Verdasco to the hilt straight to begin. He fires off a backhand that sees Verdasco scramble to make it - and net it!

That gives Djokovic the break - and a 2-0 lead!

Djokovic quickly seals his opening service game in just under a minute, with an ace to finish off and lead 1-0.

Time for action! It's Djokovic to serve.

Verdasco was last year responsible for the biggest upset of the Australian Open in the first round; the Spaniard ousted compatriot and former No 1 Rafael Nadal in Round 1 last year.

Djokovic leads Verdasco 9-4 in their head-to-head. The Serbian No. 2 is properly returning from a less-than-ideal end to the 2016 season and is here as the defending champion and second seed.

Djokovic is hitting around with Verdasco to the tunes of Blur's Parklife.

And hey, it fits. "All the people, so many people..."