Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Alcaraz is in his rhythm now. When he starts drop-shotting and serving aces, he is going to be hard to break down.

The big problem for Alex de Minaur is that he finds himself a break down and Carlos Alcaraz looks like he could still step up his level if needed.

The Spaniard has a huge grin on his face as De Minaur does well to reach his tricky drop shot and then lets fly a superb cross-court winner.

Even when he's losing points, Alcaraz looks happy!

He'll be even happier now that he's got the hold for a 4-1 lead.

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

The body language is different now from De Minaur.

He isn't bouncing around quite as much, he is remaining calm and not expending any extra energy.

A sigh of relief as he slows Carlos Alcaraz's momentum and gets himself on the scoreboard in the second set.

The Melbourne crowd are trying to get behind him and will him on.

The serve comes up clutch for Alex de Minaur and brings us to deuce.

Alex de Minaur is starting to look frustrated. He just can't catch a break.

Carlos Alcaraz has got himself another break point.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Carlos Alcaraz holds his hands up in apology. Alex de Minaur had stopped running to the drop shot when he thought it would fall short at the net, but it bounces straight up off the net cord and over.

The sixth seed stands with his hands on his hips, looking annoyed.

And there's the hold for Alcaraz. That's five games in a row for the the six-time major winner.

Carlos Alcaraz sends a series of returns back at Alex de Minaur with some serious pace and the Australian can only reply with slices to try to slow the play down.

But that tactic doesn't really pay off and he's wrongfooted as the Spaniard sends another fiery backhand to the corner of the court.

Carlos Alcaraz sends a backhand long but he works up another break point with a brilliant cross-court winner.

Carlos Alcaraz looks ballerina-like as he leaps into a shot at the net, planting it down into the empty court left behind by Alex de Minaur.

That brings us back to deuce before a backhand miss from the home hope gifts Alcaraz an early chance to break in the second set.

A bit of back and forth.

Alex de Minaur comes up with just his second ace of the match to move 40-30 up, but he clips the next point onto the net cord and it falls back onto his side of the court. Deuce.

After falling 0-30 down on his serve, Carlos Alcaraz claws his way back and wriggles free of trouble.

Just when there's a glimmer of hope for Alex de Minaur, Alcaraz comes along and squashes it.

Image source, Reuters

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne

Alcaraz has been far from his best, but it’s still been enough - which tells you everything about the gulf between the pair overall.

De Minaur is playing on the front foot, standing close to the baseline and pushing Alcaraz back in the court.

The Aussie has been very good. Yet it’s still not quite enough against a player of Alcaraz’s calibre.

If he loses serve early in the second set, things could escalate quickly.

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Looking at the stats, I think both players will be looking to improve their serves.

De Minaur is at 50% and 53% from Alcaraz [first serve percentage]. Both players will be looking to get into the sixties at least.

Carlos Alcaraz stood for a moment or two after the end of that rally and stared straight at his team before letting out a huge cry of "VAMOS".

He was made to work for that one.

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

What a set of tennis that is! It doesn't get any better than that.

The standard of tennis from the first point when Alcaraz ripped a winner, and the last point was unbelievable defence from De Minaur.

Very impressive stuff.

Image source, Getty Images

Not a bad way to win it!

Alex de Minaur looked like he had the better of Carlos Alcaraz on more than one occasion during that point, but the world number one stays in the rally - reaching a drop shot and a lob before De Minaur goes long.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne

Poor call from chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore.

Alex de Minaur seemed to be waiting for Alcaraz and the crowd to signal they were ready.

The Aussie was perplexed. So was Alcaraz, who ‘fessed up and took the blame.

Not the ideal start to a game that De Minaur needed to hold to stay in the set...

Carlos Alcaraz can only return a huge first serve from Alex de Minaur wide and we go to deuce.

But just as soon as those three points disappeared for the top seed, he bags himself another chance to wrap up the opener.

After standing up for Alex de Minaur just a matter of seconds ago, he rushes to a 0-40 lead on the Australian's serve - bringing up three set points.