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Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray enter discussions on the same court for the second time on Wednesday after passing their first test together in the infancy of their burgeoning partnership.

MORE: Day 4 schedule of play

The debut of the new player-coach tandem was not without its hairy moments early on at Rod Laver Arena on Monday night, after the 10-time champion at Melbourne Park took a set to hit his straps against 19-year-old American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy.

After a scare and a healthy dose of strategic chit-chat, the 37-year-old combatant and his 37-year-old coach were able to cast their focus on another unlikely first-time challenger, Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria.

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As with any new relationship, Djokovic admitted the pair had much to learn, having not spent a great deal of time together as teammates.

“We're still in that kind of first phase of getting to know each other,” Djokovic said after the 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-2 win. “This was the first match that we had together … He was giving me his feedback, his guidance and opinion. It's important. I enjoy talking to Andy. I mean, he knows tennis as well as anybody out there.”



The seventh seed has never crossed paths with the 21-year-old from Lisbon, a 125th-ranked qualifier in his Grand Slam debut.

It was time for the next RLA test in the Djokovic-Murray alliance, and a chance to iron out further form concerns in a day session showdown.

“I don't need to do much explaining,” Djokovic said. “He gets everything that I'm going through. In those moments on the court, it's a big battle. Of course, he wants me to show the energy, to show the fist pump and everything to get myself going … It's different in official match, centre court, night session.

“The court on which we have faced each other on the opposite side of the net quite a few times actually … That's why it was a little bit strange to see that and experience that.”

Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka opens proceedings at RLA when she looks to notch her 16th straight Grand Slam hard-court win on Wednesday.

MORE: AO 2025 women's singles draw

After dancing her way past former US Open champion Sloane Stephens with few difficulties at the first hurdle, the top seed squares off against 54th-ranked Jessica Bouzas Maneiro for the first time.

The 22-year-old Spaniard has form when it comes to dethroning the incumbent after she sent Marketa Vondrousova packing in the first round at Wimbledon last year.

Unlike Djokovic, Sabalenka was not about to rely on the court-level coach’s pod for her support.



“I like to see the whole team. Even if I'm not looking at each person in my box, I always look at my coach, but I still see everyone. For me that's important … Four seats is not enough,” she laughed.

“If they would make it to eight seats, I don't know how, but it would be much better for me. So, we decided to put everyone in the box. Maybe they were kind of like tight there and not comfortable, but I was comfortable to see all of them.”

Sabalenka’s potential semifinal disruptor, third seed Coco Gauff, opens the RLA night session against Great Britain’s Jodie Burrage, an opponent she conceded just two games against when they met on grass at Eastbourne last year.

Gauff’s form flurry of late extended to 19 wins from her past 21 matches after she comfortably accounted for Australian Open 2020 champion Sofia Kenin in the opening round.

“She's one of those people that she can play great tennis,” Gauff said of Kenin. “She's obviously won this tournament before, but I just think of the positives of if you get through that, then you kind of have a set the tone for having a high level throughout the tournament.”

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Men’s second seed Alexander Zverev easily prevailed in the battle of Australian Open semifinalists against wildcard and former top-tenner Lucas Pouille in his first outing at Melbourne Park this year.

He returns to close out the night session on Wednesday when he meets Spain’s Pedro Martinez for the second time.

The German took care of the world No.44 in the Hamburg semifinals last year on his way to his highest year-end ranking in a season which included ATP Masters 1000 titles in Rome and Paris and his second major final at Roland Garros.

“I think he's somebody that competes quite hard,” Zverev said of Martinez. “Maybe is not someone that has the biggest shots or biggest game, but I think he tries to make it complicated through his mind a little bit and through his game style.”

Elsewhere, third seed Carlos Alcaraz continues his pursuit of the last major missing from his collection when he seeks a second win over Japanese world No.65 Yoshihito Nishioka in the second round, while Australian wildcard Talia Gibson chases the biggest win of her career over 11th seed and Spain’s former world No.2 Paula Badosa.