Australian Open 2014, Rafael Nadal v Gaël Monfils: live 11.30 Nadal 6-1, 6-2, 3-3 Monfils* Monfils beats himself up after over-hitting a forehand long - quite literally as he gives his thigh a good slap. It's worked though as he picks up the next two points, the second running round a Nadal return to fire down a forehand for his 28th winner of the match. He tries to find the same area of the court on the next shot but hits wide. He makes amends on the next jumping on top of a short return to bring up advantage and then seals the game. 11.25 Nadal* 6-1, 6-2, 3-2 Monfils Monfils frustratingly smacks the ball into the net after a missed volley and then tries to play the joker by replaying the point how he had in his head. The Frenchman uses his anger to good effect when he drills a backhand winner into the corner but nets a second-serve return into the net as Nadal moves to 40-15. The Spaniard scampers down a deep backhand return on the next point and at full stretch sends a forehand winner which lands flush on the line. He's just that good today. 11.21 Nadal 6-1, 6-2, 2-2 Monfils* What Nadal can do, Monfils can almost match...but drops a point on his way to levelling the set. 11.17 Nadal* 6-1, 6-2, 2-1 Monfils Nadal hands the service baton straight back to Monfils after a love game. This is how Monfils would like to face Nadal... 11.14 Nadal 6-1, 6-2, 1-1 Monfils* Monfils adopts a serve-volley approach to contain Nadal and a timely ace brings up two game points. He's put back in his box when Nadal whips a forehand service return back with gusto and then is worked side-to-side hanging in a rally before he slides into a forehand and finds the net. Nadal brings up advantage by punching another powerful and deep backhand which Monfils can't return but is beaten by a classy backhand winner on the line from Monfils. Errors creep back into Monfils's game as yet another double fault allows Nadal another break point shot. It comes and goes as Monfils makes the most of a dip in levels from Nadal and then rattles down a thundering ace on his second serve at advantage to hold - just. 11.06 Nadal* 6-1, 6-2, 1-0 Monfils While Nadal allows himself some time for a spot of origami during the changeover, ok ok he was sorting out a fresh headband, Monfils just seems baffled as he sits motionless in his chair. Monfils comes out and grinds his way to 15-30 but then puts too much punch on a regulation forehand. A deuce later and Nadal is on the board in the third when Monfils can't keep his service return in. 10.57 Nadal 6-1, 6-2 Monfils* This match was billed as THE one to watch in the third round but Monfils, despite not playing badly, hasn't been able to give Nadal anything to think about. Another double fault at 15-40 down doesn't do him any favours and the second set has gone. 10.55 Nadal* 6-1, 5-2 Monfils Monfils is doing his best to get everything back that Nadal is throwing at him, but he's finding it hard going trying to force Nadal into one more shot. A couple of strong serves followed by an ace leave Nadal just a game away from a two-sets to love lead. 10.51 Nadal 6-1, 4-2 Monfils* Monfils looks to be heading for another straight-forward game before two double faults at 30-love up hand Nadal an opening. He gets his serve back up and running on the next, but a third double fault allows Nadal back to deuce. A second deuce later and some wayward shots from both men sees Monfils float a forehand wide and gift Nadal a break point shot. Another unforced error later and Nadal is presented the game. 10.45 Nadal* 6-1, 3-2 Monfils Despite a slight wobble in his opening service game, Nadal hasn't looked like being broken as he rattles off the fifth game of the second set to love. 10.43 Nadal 6-1, 2-2 Monfils* Nadal skips to the baseline from the changeover trying to shake off that niggle. He didn't go over during that last point but it will be interesting to see how his movement is affected. The short answer is that it isn't if the first few shots are anything to go. Monfils jumps into one forehand to reel his opponent back to 30-all and crucially the Frenchman wins the next point when Nadal can't get enough on a two-handed backhand return down the line. A deuce ensues before Monfils sees off a break point with a passing winner and gets himself to advantage with his fourth ace of the match. And boom, he rams home a forehand winner which even Nadal can't get near. We might finally have a match on here. 10.35 Nadal* 6-1, 2-1 Monfils Nadal didn't take too kindly being swatted aside in that last game as he hooks a forehand winner to the basline and forces Monfils to go wide to bring up his own three game points. He, unlike Monfils, only needs one but what's this Nadal picked up foot injury during that final point and he hobbles back to his chair. That's a worry. 10.33 Nadal 6-1, 1-1 Monfils* Finally Monfils stays toe-to-toe with Nadal and forces the Spaniard to falter first after a slug-fest of a rally on the baseline. When Nadal hits long on the next, Monfils has three game points, a rarity for the Frenchman this match. In his excitement he hits long on the next point but finally holds serve with a sweeping forehand across court which the crowd revel in. They're desperate to see him make a game of it. 10.28 Nadal* 6-1, 1-0 Monfils Nadal picks up where he left the opening set to leave Monfils on the back foot and scratching his head as to what to do out there. The Frenchman slaps at a service return but despite making good contact, it has too much on it and the game is gone. 10.22 Nadal 6-1 Monfils* Wow, it's a real blink and you miss game as Nadal storms to three set points before Monfils finally kicks into gear, swings and hits a couple of winners before handing the set to Nadal by sending a backhand into the tramlines. That set was wrapped up in 39 minutes even after it took Nadal a good 11 minutes to win his first service game. 10.19 Nadal* 5-1 Monfils Monfils said in the build-up that he'd prefer to play in the really hot conditions. It's around the low 20's tonight, half of what it has been for most of this week and despite Nadal's shirt soaked in sweat and sticking to his chest he's romping this set as he takes the game to 15. 10.15 Nadal 4-1 Monfils* Boom. Nadal is on fire on Rod Laver, dancing around the baseline and striking the ball with perfect precision and timing. Monfils isn't playing badly but Nadal is THAT good currently. Thankfully for Monfils, Nadal fails to make one return after the longest rally of the match (21 strokes) to move to game point. A drop shot isn't executed by Monfils and Nadal bounces on it forcing Monfils to falter and the world No 1 is back at deuce. Another deuce later and a huge roar goes up on as Monfils finally gets on the board. 10.09 Nadal* 4-0 Monfils Nadal has started aggressively and trying to keep the points short by approaching the net where possible. Even when they get locked into a rally the Frenchman is struggling to make inroads. Monfils changes tact and fizzes an audicious service return past Nadal. But Nadal wraps up an easier service game second time round to extend his lead. 10.03 Nadal 3-0 Monfils* Monfils tries to dictate the play by stepping up to the net and sending a deep forehand back but Nadal is equal to it and manages to pass Monfils with a sublime forehand into the deuce court. Monfils responds with a forehand down the line on a crucial point to level at 30-all but whips a backhand too wide to hand Nadal another break point chance which he duly takes. 10.00 Nadal* 2-0 Monfils A great drop-volley from Nadal gets the Spaniard on the board on his own serve and Monfils doens't have an answer to Nadal's next drilled backhander into the corner. Nadal surprisingly nets a volley at game point up to allow Monfils back to 30 and is pegged back to deuce when Monfils strokes home a sweet backhand. Monfils finds the same spot again just inside the tramlines halfway up the court with this time a forehand winner for break point. But he overeggs his next forehand much to the dismay of the crowd on Rod Laver. Nadal misses another regulation volley to hand Monfils another break point chance but the Spaniard works the angles against his opponent before another injection of pace leaves Monfils attempting to chase down a forehand without success. Monfils is handed his third break point chance when Nadal sends a backhand into the tramlines but saves the danger with an unreturnable first serve. Nadal, dripping in sweet already, finally gets on the board and contains Monfils with a game running over 11 minutes. 09.46 Nadal 1-0 Monfils* (*denotes next to serve) Monfils dressed in a fluorescent yellow and back-sleeved shirt and black shorts gets us underway against Nadal in his red and grey attire. Nadal opens up with a mini-break before Monfils rattles off the next four points. The Frenchman slaps his next return into the net and lets the next point slip to give Nadal a break point opening. An injection of pace on Nadal's forehand catches Monfils out and the world No 1 has an early break. 09.30 Players are out and about to go through their warm-ups... Nadal wins coin toss and opts to receive... 09.20 What do you do if you can't find an opponent but are desperate for a knock around? Monfils's answer seems to be play yourself in this shot... ...see I told you he was the madman of men's tennis 09.13...And Azarenka has bagelled her opponent in the second set to reach the fourth round as the clock strikes one hour. 09.12 Nadal and Monfils will follow the conclusion of two-times defending champion Victoria Azarenka's contest with Austrian Yvonne Meusburger. Azarenka only lost one game in the opening set and now has three match points to wrap up the match in just under an hour. 09.00 Morning one and all. Andy Murray has coasted into the second week of the Australian Open without dropping a set and Rafael Nadal, the top seed in Melbourne, is hoping to follow suit with a routine win this evening on Rod Laver Arena. Standing in the way of Nadal and a spot in the fourth round is the eye-popping eccentric Frenchman Gaël Monfils who says he hopes to go 'four hours' with the Spaniard as the longer the contest goes on, the more chance he will have. On his clash with Nadal he said: "It is, at the same time, great and a shame. It is great because to play the great players in the big tournaments on the most beautiful courts, it is why we are here, no? But it is also a bit annoying it is happening so early. I have a day to prepare tactically for the match. My body feels good, I feel strong physically but I know that, against Rafa, it will be necessary to be ready to fight for four hours. I feel I am going to be ready. If it lasts an hour and a half, he will have crushed me. Tactically, I will have to be just right. I would have preferred to have played under the sun because I love the heat. Do you give the unpredictable Monfils much hope today? Get in touch by emailing vicki.hodges@telegraph.co.uk or tweet @telegraphsport with your predicions.