Australian Open LIVE scores: Jacob Fearnley vs Arthur Cazaux suspended as Jack Draper, Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage in action

After clubbing 14 aces in a whirlwind victory at the Australian Open, Carlos Alcaraz made no secret of his aspirations for his retooled serve.

“Am I a serve bot?” Alcaraz scribbled on a camera lens at Margaret Court Arena where he thrashed Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 6-0 6-1 6-4 to reach the third round.

Serving has been on the four-time grand slam champion’s mind at Melbourne Park after tweaking his motion in the off-season.

He was not thrilled with its performance in his first round win against Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko where he landed less than 60 per cent of his first serves and had six aces.

Wednesday’s figures were more encouraging for the meticulous Spaniard, who more than doubled the ace count and won 32 out of 36 points (89 per cent) on his first serve.

Novak Djokovic continued to build into the Australian Open with a 6-1 6-7(4) 6-3 6-2 victory over Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria in the second round, taking another step towards a 25th grand slam title.

For the top players, the first week of a major is all about finding a groove in the full heat of competition and Djokovic could not have wished for more from his first two opponents, both making their grand slam debuts.

On Monday, inspired American teenager Nishesh Basavareddy gave the 10-times Melbourne Park champion the runaround for the first hour of their first-round clash, and 21-year-old Faria presented another set of problems for Djokovic to solve.

Faria’s victory in the opening round was his first at tour level, while Djokovic moved out of a tie with Roger Federer to claim another record merely by taking to the court for his 430th grand slam match.

The rain is back at Melbourne Park and Fearnley and Cazaux leave the court, which is now very wet indeed.

The few spots in the air have turned into a shower. There will be no play on the outside courts until 8am GMT.

Novak Djokovic saw off the challenge of Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria to reach the third round of the Australian Open, in what was the 37-year-old’s 430th grand slam singles match.

Djokovic takes the record ahead of Roger Federer for all-time grand slam singles matches but the 21-year-old Faria made life difficult for the 24-time grand slam champion.

Djokovic prevailed 6-1 6-7(4) 6-3 6-2 and was full of praise for his young opponent, ranked 125th in the world.

“I think I responded well in the third set and particularly the fourth. He was playing lights-out tennis at the end of the second set and start of the third and I had to weather the storm.

“I told him at the net, ‘the future is bright for you so carry on’.”

Break! Not the start Jacob Fearnley wanted as Arthur Cazaux lands a deep return and then plants a backhand winner down the line to bring up two break points.

A double fault from Fearnley hands Cazaux the opening break.

The rain has passed over Melbourne Park and we’re underway on Court Six in the match between Fearnley and Cazaux.

Cazaux is being roared on by a contingent of French fans in the corner and holds his opening service game to love.

Carlos Alcaraz required just 81 minutes to thrash Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 6-0 6-1 6-4 and reach the third round of the Australian Open.

The four-time grand slam champion, who is trying out a new service motion this season, thundered down 14 aces during the straight-sets win.

“Am I a serve bot?” Alcaraz wrote on a camera lens as he left the Margaret Court Arena,

“I felt more comfortable on it, yes. I think the serve’s about confidence and feelings,” Alcaraz later said.

“Today I felt great. The throw of the ball was great today, which it helps a lot in the serve today.”

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka came through a scare to beat Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and reach the third round, extending her winning run at the Australian Open to 16 matches.

The World No 1 made a comeback from 5-2 down in the second set and Bouzas Maneiro saved two match points but Sabalenka eventually closed out the 6-3 7-5 victory to reach the third round.

“She played incredible tennis today and it was a really tough one,” Sabalenka said. “I mean, I expected this tennis from her, so I’m really glad that I was able to win this match.

“I’m super happy with the win in straight sets, especially against someone like her, who makes you work for every point.”

Naomi Osaka passed one of her biggest tests since returning to tennis with a 1-6 6-1 6-3 victory over 20th seed Karolina Muchova.

Osaka, who beat Caroline Garcia in the first round, came from a set down to beat a player in Muchova who knocked her out of the US Open.

“It took everything, I left everything out there on the court,” Osaka said.

But the four-time grand slam winner’s draw does not get any easier and she plays former top-10 player Belinda Bencic, who is also returning to tennis after giving birth, in the third round.

Unfortunately, it’s raining in Melbourne so there will be a delay to the start of Jacob Fearnley’s match against Arthur Cazaux.

Both players have remained on court, so it looks as though it will just be a brief delay.