Australian Open day eight evening session

Have some of that! Federer opens up with as ballsy a service return as you could see, punching a backhand past his opponent. Raonic hits back but messes up a forehand to take us to deuce. The Canadian somehow keeps Federer at bay and holds serve. But now here's Federer to serve for the match...

Federer doesn't let the loss of his first game this set worry him in the slightest as he comfortably holds for a 5-1 lead. Raonic to serve now to stay in the match.

An atypically scrappy game from Federer results in the first deuce of the match on the Swiss legend's serve. But the tension is shortlived as Federer snuffs out Raonic's hopes as if he were squashing an irritating insect with the sole of his pink-laced shoe, sealing the game with an ace.

Raonic's groundstrokes are a bit like Forrest Gump's infamous box of chocolates at the moment and two forehand error in a row gift Federer two more break points. He saves the first but fluffs yet another backhand volley to give Federer the double break.

Wow - two point in a row for Raonic on the Federer serve - the second via the Swiss's first double fault of the match. An absolute War and Peace of a rally (by the standards of this match anyway) follows but Raonic is the first to break as he can't clear the net with a backhand on the run. Federer closes on the game and consolidates the break.

Federer changes his shirt at the change of ends and settles down to receive the Raonic serve once more. Can he make lighter work of this set? It looks like he may well do as Raonic falls 0-30 behind. Federer is reading his serve like a book now and Raonic nets successive backhands to lose his serve to love.

No sniff of a mini-break yet as Raonic nets a return then lands another ace to take us to the change of ends at 3-3.

More powerplay from Raonic, following up his serve with a beast of a forehand into the corner to go 40-15 up. Another jolting first serve hits the frame of Fed's racquet to set up a tie-break.

This is starting to remind me of the dark old days at Wimbledon when a big server would take on a big server and rallies would be about as common as jacuzzis in the desert. Another Federer hold to love passes in the blink of an eye.

Raonic, sporting a Federesaue white headband and a loose-hanging gold chain, has not quite rescaled the heights of his 145mph serve in the first set, but even a 128mph effort is too quick for Federer. Then a 139mph ace down the centre to square things up at 5-5.

Raonic pushes a forehand return long then drills the next one into the net. Federer holds to love for the third time in a row to go 5-4 in front.

Federer's pink shoe laces get the thumbs down from a colleague, but I reckon the great Swiss is pulling off the look. Raonic serves his 12th ace to hold to 15. Looks like another tie-break, but didn't we say that in the first set?

Federer remains impregnable on serve. Whether it's first or second, Raonic can't seem to get himself into the point. At 40-0, the Swiss aces down the middle.

Raonic nets to take the unforced error count to 20-3. But his big serve is keeping him in this. Federer slices a backhand return long and can't control his next return off another first serve bullet.

Federer, slick as ever in light grey with pink trimmings, loses the first point on his serve to raise the alarm bells, but wins the next four to move 3-2 in front.

Raonic is attacking the net whenever he can but he loops a half-volley long to give Federer a chance to put more pressure on at 30-30. Too big serves get the Canadian out of trouble and level up the second set at 2-2.

Raonic is still struggling to get close to the Federer serve. The Swiss, who has only lost three points so far on serve in the entire match and made just two unforced errors, holds again with ease.

Raonic holds to 15 with an excellent service game featuring three aces and a much more confident volleyed winner.

Can Raonic find a way to break the Federer serve? Not yet. Fed holds to 15 when Raonic nets with an attempted through-the-legs retrieve after a delicate lob from the Swiss.

Raonic is starting to get the odd serve back but as soon as we enter rally time, Federer comes out on top more often than not. A fifth ace, another hold to love, Raonic will serve now to stay in this first set.

Raonic modelled his serve on that of Pete Sampras apparently and it seems to be working for him as he holds to 15 with an ace down the centre line. He has won three of his last four matches against top 10 opposition, the only loss coming to to Andy Murray at the 2012 US Open.

Brute force from both sides as they exchange forehand winners. At 40-15, a Raonic forehand barely gets above ground level and Federer takes the lead.

Raonic sends down a 145mph rocket of an ace but loses the next point when Federer successfully challenges the line judge's call. Federer wins the next two points to open up two break points but Raonic saves the first with another ace and the second when Federer nets. Federer keeps the pressure on with a sublime backhand pass but Raonic stays strong and holds with a smash.

Two more Federer aces are followed by a forehand slap from Raonic into the tramlines. An ace down the middle and it's 3-2 to Fed. If I tell you that four of their previous nine sets have gone to tie-breaks I very much doubt you will be surprised, will you? Federer leads the head to head series 3-0.

Neither player is laying a glove on the other's serve at the moment. This time it's the Canadian's turn to hold to love, sealing it with a wide ace that's miles beyond the Federer reach.

Raonic isn't holding back with his returns either, but he can't keep them in the court at the moment and Federer comfortably holds. The winner of this match faces Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-final.

Raonic has a huge serve, and i mean huge. An he hits his second almost as hard as his first. A double fault lets Federer claw it back to 40-30 but Raonic clinches the game with an extraordinary crosscourt volley from behind his back.

Easy start for the Special One of tennis as he holds to love, serving an ace to go 40-0 up and a forehand winner to take the game.

A bit more aggression from Kirilenko as she goes 30-15 ahead on the Williams serve. Maybe she's reading the live text and wants to prove me wrong? As soon as the point becomes a baseline rally, however, Serena's power starts to overwhelm her opponent and she sneaks 40-30 ahead with a drilled backhand. Kirilenko unfurls a backhand winner of her own to take the game to deuce but Williams holds with an ace and an unreturnable serve.

At 30-30, Kirilenko fluffs a drop shot to give Serena a sniff of a ninth successive game. A Kirilenko serve is dismissed out of hand with a backhand down the line. One-sided? At the moment I'm not even sure if the other side is on the pitch.

Williams has missed one first serve all match I'm told. The American bludgeons a backhand to go 40-15 ahead and takes the game when a Kirilenko forehand down the line catches the tape.

Kirilenko wins her first point in what seems like an age and follows up with a second to battle back to 30-30 on her own serve. But Williams fights back and on break point the Russian lands one long to fall 2-0 behind. This is going to be over in a flash.

A textbook volley from Williams then Kirilenko lobs long. At 40-0, the Russian can't keep her return in the court and another game slips by.

An easy hold for Murray and he is one game away from his ninth consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Simon's best bet is to serve and serve big. The tactic takes him 0-40 up. Murray slams a return winner but drags the next one wide. Simon calls for the trainer again at the change of ends.

No, Simon is going to soldier on. But it's a very half-hearted effort as Murray holds to love. This is no longer a contest (if it ever was) but never fear we have Serena Williams and Roger Federer coming up, so stay with me.

Better from Simon, landing a few first serves to get himself to 40-15. Murray challenges on the next point, but replay shows the line was caught and Simon is back on the board. Simon stays out on the court to stretch his quads - and now he's calling for the trainer. Is this game over?

Simon is still out there, but I think his mind is starting to wander, thinking about his inflight meal and a nice rom-com en route to Paris. Murray holds with minimum exertion.

Murray is pulling out some of his tricks now, feinting to go down the line, then flicking crosscourt at the last minute. It's an easy break to 15 and I think the fat lady is warbling.

More signs now of Simon sapping away, but it looks like he's going to be too proud to throw in the towel here. Murray holds to 15.

The pattern seems to be that as soon as Murray engages his opponent in a rally, he is more than likely to win the point. If Simon keeps points short, however, he has a chance and he holds serve with a neat serve and punchy volley.

Simon knows he needs to try to upset Murray's rhythm here but he doesn't look comfortable trying to force things and a couple of wayward backhands take us to deuce. Another backhand drifts wide and Murray has a break point. He wastes the first, but takes the second and is now just one game shy of a 2-0 lead.

Despite the scoreline, Murray is not playing with any great consistency here and is taken to 30-30 on his serve by Simon. The Scot gathers himself though and clinches a 4-1 lead with an ace down the middle.

Murray chunters away to himself in the break between games and comes out roaring with some booming groundstrokes to nab two break points. Murray gobbles up the second as his opponent runs out of juice mid rally and pushes a backhand into the net.

Murray goes 30-15 up but lets his opponent off the hook with an underhit backhand and a horribly wayward overhead. Break point for Simon... Great return, he's into the net and finishes it off with an emphatic smash! Did Murray get a bit complacent there, thinking his opponent was dead and buried?

Signs that there is still a bit of life in the Simon pegs as he sprints into the net to execute a perfect drop volley, but there's no let up from Murray as he works his opponent around the court to pick up a break point. Simon saves it with a big serve but Murray is happy to wait for his chance, and he takes his third break point with an exquisite forehand pass. Simon's hands are on his knees. He looks like a boxer who's done 10 rounds with Tyson.

Simon goes 0-30 up on the Murray serve, but the Scot finds his range with an ace and a couple of clean winners and holds at the first opportunity. Simon required three hours of treatment after his gruelling battle with Monfils - he was even too tired to do the post-match press conference - and it's pretty clear he's hurting out there already.

Another effortless love service game takes Murray to within one game of the first set. Simon is looking pretty knackered already, which is understandable given his 4 hour, 43 minute slog with Gael Monfils in the third round. Murray meanwhile, has spent just 5 hours, 30 minutes on court in the entire tournament.

At 30-all Murray is threatening another break but Simon pulls out a big first serve to sneak ahead. In the next point Murray pulls his opponent hither and thither to take the match to deuce. A successful challenge earns a break point which Simon saves with some lovely groundstrokes, but a double fault puts the Frenchman under the cosh again. Murray nets tamely and Simon pulls through with a couple of forceful serves.

Murray heeds the Bates call and cranks up the volume a touch to win his serve to love.

Simon lands a few first serves to stop the rot and holds serve to 15. In case you're just joining us, I should inform you that the winner of this match will play France's Jeremy Chardy in the quarterfinal after he beat Italy's Andreas Seppi 5-7 6-3 6-2 6-2. Chardy had never previously got beyond the second round in six visits to Melbourne.

Murray has played 14th-seed Simon 10 times and won the last nine of them. But he's not finding it easy here as Simon takes him to deuce. Murray chooses a good time to send down his first ace of the match - but fluffs his lines by dumping a straightforward forehand into the net. Murray, however, does hold his serve at the second attempt to take a 3-1 lead.

The serving struggles continue as Simon falls 0-30 behind, before hauling it back to 30-all as Murray misses the lines with a couple of loose swings. An immaculate drop shot earns Murray a break point which he converts with a fluent crosscourt winner.

Hi there, Sam Sheringham here to guide you through the remainder of this match. I've just arrived and this feels a bit like turning up to a golf course and being told your tee off time is in five minutes. No practice swings, no putting green, just have a swing. Here's hoping I don't shank one into the trees.

A big surprise in Murray's first service game as Simon breaks him to love. Murray lets a passing shot go and sees it clip the line, then pushes a forehand drive wide of the line and throws away the break. Seven points in a row against the serve.

The match has started the way the bookmakers' predicted. The third seed stepping into the Simon serve and getting plenty of reward, although a 25-shot baseline slug-fest ends in the Frenchman's favour for 30-30. Another lengthy rally... and this time it goes Murray's way for a break point and the world number 16 meekly surrenders by plonking a backhand into the tape.