Australia's Jason Kubler stunned the tennis world by winning one of the most incredible long rallies you will ever see at the Australian Open or anywhere before he ultimately fell short against 18th-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov.
Earlier, Greek star Maria Sakkari took aim at her teen opponent's on-court antics during a press conference, and an injured Rafael Nadal saw his title defence end in sad fashion.
Look back on day three of the Australian Open as it happened.
Key events
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Live updates
Thanks for joining me
By Paul Johnson
That's all for us on the live blog today.
There was a lot of news happening, not least of all Rafael Nadal's shock exit or Jason Kubler's amazing moment.
We'll be back tomorrow for all the action including the Kokkinakis/Murray blockbuster.
And as always Luke Pentony will be filing stories on all the news from Melbourne Park.
See you then.
Medvedev too good for dogged Millman
By Paul Johnson
2022 finalist Daniil Medvedev's draw opened up for him when Rafael Nadal lost and he wasted little time against Australia's John Millman.
Medvedev, who won the 2021 US Open, before losing the final here last year was pushed early on by the veteran Australian, before winning in straight sets.
Millman pushed Medvedev all the way to 5-all in the opening set before the Russian star took his game up a level.
He broke Millman for 6-5 and then served out the set before racing through the second and third sets.
The latter sets combined took just over what he required to win the opener in the 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 victory.
For Medvedev, the match represented a good hit out as he chases a third straight Australian Open final.
For Millman, it was a tough draw but his performance showed he is ready to have a better year than a 2022 that was interrupted by injury.
Medvedev said Millman "played amazing" and credited the Australian for being able to break his serve multiple times.
"One moment in the first set I was like, 'how am I going to handle this'," he said.
Medvedev also laughed about his slim physique post match but said he was feeling "strong" and ready for the challenge a full fortnight will take.
Gauff outlasts defiant Raducanu
By Paul Johnson
Results coming thick and fast at the moment and in the women's singles Coco Gauff has taken out a tight battle of young guns.
Gauff saved a pair of set points in the second set to deny the Brit, who has struggled with injury and form since she won the 2021 US Open as a teenager.
Raducanu gave it her best but still hasn't made it past the second round of a slam since that heady run.
Gauff meanwhile has been labelled one of the favourites here and her steely 6-3, 7-6 victory showed she can get tough when it matters.
Kubler falls short after epic moment at Aus Open
By Paul Johnson
Jason Kubler gave it his all, including winning an epic 70-shot rally, but it wasn't enough to topple 18th-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov.
The US Open semifinalist prevailled over the Australian in four sets, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
But the pair played what will be remembered as one of the great points of the tournament.
With Khachanov serving for the second set, Kubler broke back after a 70-shot rally as his backhand clipped the tape for a winner.
Kubler then rattled off three straight games to take the set.
It was as close as he would get.
Khachanov basically apologised on court for knocking off an Aussie and begged for fans to cheer him with his message on the camera lens.
"Sorry Aussies, keep cheering for me, please."
Khachanov will now play America's Frances Tiafoe in the next round.
Kokkinakis books Murray showdown
By Paul Johnson
Well it took a while but Thanasi Kokkinakis has finally booked a second round battle with Andy Murray.
Kokkinakis was giving Italian veteran Fabio Fognini a free lesson last night when rain stopped play and continued in that vein tonight.
The Australian led 6-1, 6-2, 4-2 when the players walked off court and took 3 minutes to finish the Italian 6-2 in the third.
Despite a below par performance from Fognini, Kokkinakis said he was full of confidence heading in after falling just short of defending his hometown Adelaide title.
"Adelaide gave me a lot of confidence I feel like my tennis is at a good level," Kokkinakis said.
On Tuesday Murray returned to some of his best form to stun Italy's Matteo Berrettini in 5 sets.
The 35-year-old admitted he was sore after that one and with a history of injury one has to wonder what condition he will be in but Murray as always will give it his all against Kokkinakis.
It was something Kokkinakis knows and although Murray was somewhat of a mentor to a younger Kokkinakis, the Australian said all of that will be irrelevant tomorrow.
"I feel good," Kokkinakis said.
"I am ready to give tomorrow a crack and am pretty hungry for it.
"Andy is a hell of a player and has been for many years ... I have known him for a while and he took me under his wing a bit when I came on tour.
"I will put all that aside tomorrow and no matter what court we're on... I hope you guys get behind me and get rowdy."
Another Aussie qualifier exits
By Paul Johnson
This time it's Aleksander Vukic.
The Australian finished on the wrong end of his match, which started last night by losing to American qualifier Brandon Holt.
Vukic went down in five sets 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Khachanov recovers to take the 3rd
By Paul Johnson
Amazing 70-shot points aside, Jason Kubler now finds himself down two sets to one against Karen Khachanov.
A solitary break was enough for the Russian to lead this one 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
The good news for Aussie fans, Kubler does not look like going away in this one - it remains tight.
Liam Khachanov?
By Paul Johnson
Is it just me Paul but does Khachanov look a little bit like Liam Hemsworth? Not your average Karen!
- Kim
Hi Kim,
Honestly I am not the person to ask and have never thought that... until now.
Perhaps a little bit.
'Animal' Kubler levels up after 70-shot rally
By Paul Johnson
There's doing things the hard way and then there's this.
Australia's Jason Kubler was staring down the barrel of a two-set deficit against Karen Khachanov, with the 18th-seeded Russian serving for a 6-4, 6-4 lead.
But at 30-40 Kubler dug deep and I mean DEEP!
The pair proceeded to execute a rally the likes of which left tennis fans and players alike guffawing.
The crowd on KIA Arena held their breath and added several gasps as the epic point unfolded before Kubler clipped the tape with a backhand and the ball dropped over to see him break back for 5-all.
Australian player Luke Saville labelled Kubler an "animal" on Twitter as plenty of others lauded the achievement.
Kubler then held his serve before again breaking Khachanov to take the second set 7-5 and level the match.
Aussie great calls out 'unacceptable' behaviour
By Paul Johnson
Australian tennis Hall of Famer and Nine Network commentator Todd Woodbridge has taken to Twitter to call out an online troll following Rafael Nadal's shock Australian Open loss.
Woodbridge shared the post from an Instagram user on Wednesday afternoon.
After the user posted: "Just a old has been trying to stay in the lime light! Shame they heart attack didn't end you".
Woodbridge said that sort of "unacceptable behaviour" needed to be called out.
The Australian, who won 16 grand slams men's doubles titles, with partners Mark Woodforde and Jonas Bjorkman, suffered what he said was a "mild" heart attack in 2022.
The 51-year-old retired in 2005 and is now commentating the Australian Open for Nine, alongside Jim Courier and a host of others.
Kubler fighting an uphill battle
By Paul Johnson
As far as Australian men's players not named Nick Kyrgios go, the rise of Jason Kubler has really been one of the stories of the past year.
The 29-year-old has had to endure serious knee problems for much of his career but had a breakout Wimbledon where he made the 4th round before a loss to Taylor Fritz.
He missed out on the mass of rankings points for it but has been solid this summer.
He's now on court against big Russian Karen Khachanov.
The 18th seed took the opening set 6-4 after breaking Kubler in the opening game but for the rest of the match Kubler has been mixing it with his higher-ranked opponent.
He's got himself in trouble though by having a backhand battle with Khachanov and probably needs to get out of that pattern if he wants to have a chance of causing an upset here.
Things are on serve in the 2nd set.
A lot of love from you all for Rafa
By Paul Johnson
Rafa fan
Devastated 😭😭😭 don’t want this to be the beginning of the end for Rafa, we already lost Federer 😢😢
Natty
I'm gutted for Rafa...😔
Bill
Nadal will always be a winner! Respect for this great gentleman overrides all.
Nadal says hip injury has been bothering him for days
By Paul Johnson
Rafael Nadal paid tribute to Mackenzie McDonald for his incredible level in their singles match but said the hip injury he suffered hampered his movement and backhand badly.
"Mackenzie was playing at a great level of tennis," Nadal told the media.
"I was fighting but he was doing well and I was not doing that well."
Asked what the injury was Nadal simply said "the hip" before saying it had been an issue before the match but never this bad.
"I have been a couple of days like this but nothing like today," he said.
"I don't know if it is muscle or if it is joint.
"I have had a history with the hip... I have had treatments but it was not this amount of problem.
"I lost the match, that's it ... I tried till the end."
"I was not able to hit the backhand at all and I was not able to run for the ball."
Asked why he played on rather than retire Nadal indicated his competitive nature and pride saw him try and play for a miracle victory.
"I did not want to retire as defending champion here," Nadal said.
"Just try your best till the end no matter the chances, that is the philosophy of the sport."
Aussie Max Purcell exits
By Paul Johnson
Max Purcell, who qualified for this AO, has lost his first round match to Finland's Emil Ruusuvori.
Purcell might be familiar to Aussie tennis fans for making the men's doubles final last year with Matthew Ebden, the pair losing to Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Purcell played an epic fourth set breaker against the Finn but came up just short, losing 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13/11).
Purcell is again playing in the doubles this year but with Jordan Thompson.
Injured Nadal exits in Australian Open shock
By Paul Johnson
Some things in sport are just sad to see, and this was one.
An injured, ageing Rafael Nadal has been turfed in the second round of his Australian Open title defence as American Mackenzie McDonald claimed the biggest win of his career in straight sets.
McDonald won the match 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 and was leading before Nadal picked up the injury but that did not help the Spaniard.
Nadal dropped the opening set courtesy of a high level from the American and his own sloppy start, where unforced errors flowed.
Signs of life were evident in the second set, then bang.
Nadal, after hitting a backhand winner and being stretched on the forehand, felt for his side.
At 3-5 he called for the trainer and left the court with the physio for treatment.
Nadal looked inconsolable but he forced McDonald to serve out the set at 5-4 but his movement was badly hampered.
Nadal then tried valiantly to hit his way out of trouble in the third set and hit plenty of winners off the serve and the forehand, but a nervous McDonald only had to push Nadal around the court and at 5-all he broke Nadal before serving out the match to claim a massive win.
McDonald said closing out the match and the potential for ending Nadal's Australian Open career weighed on him.
"It was pretty tough to stay mentally engaged there so I am pretty happy," McDonald said.
"He is an incredible champion and is never going to give up regardless of the situation, so I am glad I was able to focus on myself and I got through."
What this means for Nadal's future is unclear. When he won the title last year he was noncommittal as to whether he would return for another Australian Open.
Players making their way to outside courts
By Paul Johnson
It's been a long day but players are beginning to make their way to the outside courts at Melbourne Park for the first time today.
Here's to hoping the Melbourne summer weather sorts itself out from here.
Auger-Aliassime back from the brink
By Paul Johnson
Canadian sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime has managed to roar back from two sets down to advance to the third round.
The young Canadian was staring down the barrel of an early exit to Slovak Alex Molcan before he came back to win 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
The win would be a massive relief for him after he failed to make an impact at both Wimbledon and the US Open last year.
He is also defending points after making the final eight at the AO last year.
He will face either Francisco Cerundolo or Corentin Moutet in the third round.
Nadal is clinging to life
By Paul Johnson
Signs of life from the reigning, defending champ.
Nadal has held on for a 3-2 lead on serve in this 3rd set.
He's far from his best but he's going to make Mackenzie McDonald earn this win.
It was never really going to be any other way with the Spanish great.
What is a medical timeout, you ask
By Paul Johnson
Hey Paul, really enjoying the blogs. I’m a new tennis watcher here, what does a medical timeout involve?
- Dan
Hi Dan,
So the players get time for an assessment from a physio and then they can either be treated on the court or off it in a nearby medical room.
That timeout will last 3 minutes
Nadal down 2 sets to love
By Paul Johnson
A slew of forehand unforced errors and some very shonky movement from Nadal and he is staring down the barrel.
He's down 6-4, 6-4 and looks like he is reflecting on whether this is worth it.
Whatever treatment he had it may not have worked.
The Spanish star failed to even run for a drop shot on the opening point off the last game.
He looks totally disconsolate now.
His form was bad going into the tournament but his Australian Open title defence right now... it looks to be in tatters.
