Gael Monfils vs Matteo Berrettini LIVE: Australian Open latest updates

A perfectly executed service game by Berrettini, who shows no nerves whatsoever under the pressure of serving for the set. He now leads by two sets to love and it’s a long way back for Monfils now.

An emphatic service game for Monfils, who promptly produces two aces before two Berrettini errors seal a rapid hold to love. The Italian will still have the chance to serve out the set now though.

Berrettini quickly consolidates the break, too. At 30-0, Monfils was well on top in the rally, bludgeoning Berrettini way back behind the baseline, but the Italian plays a smart lob, forcing Monfils into one more shot. The Frenchman’s footwork is a little fatigued and a tricky smash finds the net. An unforced backhand error seals the hold.

Berrettini breaks! It was all self-inflicted too, with Monfils perhaps showing signs of tiredness after that epic game earlier in the set. The Frenchman begins with a double fault before two sloppy unforced errors cough up a break point at 30-40. Berrettini takes it straight away, with a fine return putting Monfils under pressure and a framed forehand flies way long.

A much simpler hold for Berrettini, too, who profits from two sloppy Monfils backhands to close out the game to 15.

An important hold for Monfils, who’d emptied the tank in that last game searching for the break. Two fine winners seal the game and immediately put the pressure back on Berrettini.

After almost 20 minutes and 26 points, Berrettini seals a momentous hold!

He was forced to save three break points in the game, first at 15-40 with a pair of fine forehand winners before a big ace when Monfils had the advantage.

Berrettini couldn’t take the chances on his own serve either, though, with Monfils producing fabulous variety to keep points alive and draw the Italian into mistakes, usually on his backhand. One stunning piece of defensive play, with Berrettini towering at the net, shows all of Monfils’ incredible athleticism and court coverage to take the game to deuce for a sixth time.

Finally, after a tenth deuce, Berrettini closes out the game and bellows wildly into the night. A sensational game of tennis.

Berrettini races to 40-0 on serve but lets Monfils back into the game with two poor errors. He finds a big serve when he needs it, though, and that’ s a comfortable hold.

Monfils starts his own service game with a double fault but then reels off four points in succession. There have been a few more errors from Berrettini at the start of this second set that can give Monfils some encouragement.

Monfils is immediately in trouble at the start of the second set and faces two break points after framing a backhand long. The Frenchman rises to the pressure excellently, though, as a cunningly sliced first serve takes the game to deuce.

Berrettini then unleashes another brilliant forehand to bring up a second chance to break but a limp backhand slice sees the chance go begging. Monfils coughs up another break point with a double fault but makes amends with an ace.

Finally, the Frenchman seals the hold, with a forehand winner followed by a poor Berrettini backhand. That’s a huge hold in the match.

A gift at 30-0 brings Monfils back into the game and the Frenchman does brilliantly to keep the next rally alive, absorbing Berrettini’s power and eventually forcing the mistake. Monfils then outwits Berrettini again to set up break point but the danger is snuffed out immediately by two huge aces.

Monfils isn’t ready to surrender the set just yet, though. He shifts the point onto Berrettini’s backhand, who offers up a weak slice and Monfils leaps on it, thrashing a forehand winner down the line. But he can only hold Berrrettini off for so long. The Italian lets out a huge roar as he finally holds to take the first set.