Hello and welcome to LIVE game by game coverage of defending champion Roger Federer's meeting with the towering German, Jan-Lennard Struff. The players are due on Rod Laver Arena shortly.

GAME, SET AND MATCH!- FEDERER 6-4 6-4 7-6 STRUFF. The defending champion comes through what could have been a tricky encounter in straight sets. The Swiss was left frustrated at times and overcame a mini dip in the middle of set 3 to take it on a tie break by a 7-4 scoreline. The world number two needed one hour and 55 minutes to get the job done and set up a round three clash with No.29 seed Richard Gasquet.

TB LATEST: It's looking good for Federer. He leads 4-2 at the change of ends.

FEDERER 6-4 6-4 6-6 STRUFF. In short, no. Federer hammers a trio of aces as he blitzes his way to a love hold and the tie break. Just the 54 seconds...

FEDERER 6-4 6-4 5-6 STRUFF. A double fault at the most inopportune time hands Federer two break points - and virtual match point. Struff saves one with a lovely wrong-footing backhand winner and goes on to take the next four points, finishing with a pearl of a crosscourt forehand winner. He's guaranteed the minimum of a tie break, but can he stun Federer at the death and take us straight into a fourth set?

FEDERER 6-4 6-4 5-5 STRUFF. It's rare to see Fed-Ex feeling the pressure - and he doesn't here. No look-in for the German. Could we be heading to a tie break?

FEDERER 6-4 6-4 4-5 STRUFF. Federer takes the opening point, but is powerless in the next four as Struff powers down some chunky serves to push the pressure the way of the No.2 seed.

FEDERER 6-4 6-4 4-4 STRUFF. Federer steadies the ship with an important love hold. He'll still feel confident of sealing this match in straight sets. Big game coming up for Struff now.

FEDERER 6-4 6-4 3-4 STRUFF. The Federer radar is malfunctioning. He offers up cheap points that Struff gleefully gobbles up for a simple love hold.

FEDERER 6-4 6-4 3-3 STRUFF. Normal service resumed, but not without another scare. Struff unloads a stunning backhand down the line to clock up another break point. This time, Federer refuses to buckle and levels the set from deuce. Fair play to the world No.55, he's made this very interesting in the last few games when many were expecting Federer to motor through this set.

BREAK! - FEDERER 6-4 6-4 2-3 STRUFF. A total miscue off the Federer forehand comes at 30-30 and is most welcome for a visibly tight Struff. He double faults to give the Swiss another chance to up the ante, and it's no surprise to see the 19-time Grand Slam champion hit straight back with two attempts down Struff's right flank. Deflation for the German, joy for Fed and his army of fans.

BREAK! - FEDERER 6-4 6-4 1-3 STRUFF. Wow, that's the St-r-uff! The big German earns a first break point of the match after battling back from 30-0 down. He can't convert with a hasty second serve return, but like London buses, his second opportunity arrives within seconds and this time he does make it count. Do we have a Set 3 twist on our hands?

FEDERER 6-4 6-4 1-2 STRUFF. Resilient St-r-uff from the world No.55. A pair of surprising backhand errors from Fed on attempted passes at 15-30 and deuce earn the German a reprieve. The underdog ends up saving three break points before he puts a run of big serves together to drag himself through a tough hold.

FEDERER 6-4 6-4 1-1 STRUFF. Just the 63 seconds needed for Federer to reach parity. Struff making less and less impact on the Swiss' serve.

FEDERER 6-4 6-4 0-1 STRUFF. To his credit, Jan-Lennard isn't letting this get him down. He comes out once more with a solid service game to grasp the scoreboard advantage.

SET! - FEDERER 6-4 6-4 STRUFF. As expected, a wide serve and simple crosscourt forehand secure the two-set lead for Federer inside 65 minutes as he snares another love game.

FEDERER 6-4 5-4 STRUFF. The world No.55 matches the love hold to pose the serve-out question. Was he merely delaying the inevitable? Fed's up next.

FEDERER 6-4 5-3 STRUFF. It's almost effortless. Federer's graceful technique is a joy to behold at times. He consolidates with an impressive love hold to move within a game of a two-set lead.