First on Rod Laver Arena today is this clash between former champion Maria Sharapova, seeded third this year, and French 25th seed Alize Cornet

2008 winner (and 2012 runner-up) Maria Sharapova is through to the second week of the tournament then. And she will face Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round, the Slovak dropping just two games in her last two matches.

GAME, SET AND MATCH - SHARAPOVA 6-1 7-6(6) CORNET - Relief for Maria Sharapova as she takes advantage of her second match point (albeit nearly 20 minutes after her first), a forehand down the centre of the court enough in the end as Cornet puts her return into the net.

TIE-BREAK - SHARAPOVA 6-1 6-6 (6-6) CORNET - No double fault from Sharapova, despite the French having to let her ball toss drop, but instead she backs away from the ball and sends a forehand long to gift Cornet a set point. Sharapova saves it though with a short forehand volley and a forehand drive-volley winner. All square once again at the change of ends.

TIE-BREAK - SHARAPOVA 6-1 6-6 (4-5) CORNET - Ouch. Sharapova gives away the mini-break with back-to-back forehand errors before handing Cornet the lead with a horrible forehand return of serve. There was no flow to the shot at all from Sharapova, just noise and force as she netted her forehand.

TIE-BREAK - SHARAPOVA 6-1 6-6 (4-2) CORNET - The Frenchwoman make awkward work of a smash, framing the ball into the top of the net to help Sharapova make the change of ends in possession of the mini-break

BREAK - SHARAPOVA 6-1 6-6 CORNET - Cornet brings up another break point with a backhand volley winner to end a sensational rally from both players, the pair of them covering every inch of the court. Sharapova saves the first break point with a length forehand but she can do nothing about the second, sending a forehand wide and long. Sharapova has served for the match twice now but instead it will be a second set tie-break.

BREAK - SHARAPOVA 6-1 6-5 CORNET - Sharapova will have a second chance to serve out this match as she moves up to the net and buries a forehand volley into the open court for a winner. The Russian is one of the best at putting a poor point behind her and clearing it from her mind.

BREAK - SHARAPOVA 6-1 5-5 CORNET - A massive double fault from Sharapova as she pulls down badly on her second serve brings her tally to seven - five in this second set. Maybe she is more tired after that second round epic that she initially showed today. She would absolutely be forgiven for struggling a little the longer this match goes on. And it's yet another double that costs Sharapova as she hands Cornet the break back. Back on serve now.

SHARAPOVA 6-1 5-4 CORNET - A sensational angle from Sharapova as she belts a running forehand winner across court before going on to earn herself a first match point. A mis-hit backhand squanders it for the Russian though and Cornet goes on to hold and force Sharapova to serve out the match after the change of ends.

It's may only be 25 degrees out there today but looking at Sharapova you'd be forgiven for thinking it was still in the mid-40s as she covers up with an ice vest and ice boa at the change of ends.

SHARAPOVA 6-1 5-3 CORNET - A litle look heaven-ward from Sharapova as she slaps down her sixth double fault of the match. But it turns out to be the only point dropped in the game by the Russian as Cornet nets a couple of returns. The Frenchwoman will have to serve to stay in the match next.

BREAK - SHARAPOVA 6-1 4-3 CORNET - Sharapova lets out a huge yell of "come on" as she earns herself another break point with a slew of increasingly aggressive forehands from the middle of the court. Sure enough the Russian does break again, this time the winner coming from an inside out forehand drive volley winner across court.

SHARAPOVA 6-1 3-3 CORNET - Sharapova is back in the zone now and looking focused as she works her way up to the net to fire off a forehand drive volley on her way to the hold that gets the set firmly back on serve.

BREAK - SHARAPOVA 6-1 2-3 CORNET - Oh ouch! Once again, Cornet follows up a break of the Sharapova serve by gifting her serve back to the Russian to love. A double fault seals the break for Sharapova and gets this second set back on serve.