Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of day four from the Australian Open. First up on Rod Laver Arena is world No. 3 Maria Sharapova who takes on Karin Knapp.

BREAK - SHARAPOVA 2-2 KNAPP - A truly brilliant response from Sharapova. In typical fashion, the Russian doesn't allow the disappointment from the previous game to affect her as she punishes the Knapp serve to break to love.

BREAK - SHARAPOVA 1-2 KNAPP - The third seed races out of the blocks once more, reaching 40-15. But that ugly second serve rears its head as she double faults twice in a row to let Knapp back in at deuce. A third of the match sets up the Italian for a break point of which she duly takes.

SHARAPOVA 1-1 KNAPP - Equally as impressive game from the Italian. She races to 40-0 thanks to a few booming serves - including an ace down the middle - but is pegged back by two successive Sharapova winner. An well-timed volley seals the game.

SHARAPOVA 1-0 KNAPP - Decent opening service game from Sharapova, who serves competently and is seeing the ball well. No signs of that nervy second serve as of yet, but it'll be worth keeping an eye on her double fault count today.