Live Commentary: Tommy Robredo vs. Richard Gasquet - as it happened

Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match between Tommy Robredo and Richard Gasquet in the third round of the Australian Open.

First of all, I should tell you that we will start the evening session on time today. It was delayed for about an hour yesterday because of the heat, but we have got through a full day's play in Melbourne, and this match between the 9th seed and 17 seed will commence in around five minutes time.

Both Robredo and Gasquet already know who they will play if they progress through to the fourth round. Stanislas Wawrinka had been due to play Vasek Pospisil earlier today, but the Canadian withdrew yesterday through injury. Wawrinka against either on of these two players should be an entertaining encounter.

This will be the first time that the two players have met since 2010. Their last match saw Gasquet prevail in two tie-break sets, but that's not going to have any bearing on the match on the Hisense Arena.

We are ready to get underway in Australia. It will be Gasquet to serve first.

Gasquet couldn't have asked for a much better start than that. Four points played, four points won, including a smash and forehand winner. The Frenchman looks in confident mood.

BREAK! Robredo catches the line with a big serve, but the Spaniard already looks disgruntled at 15-30. The next point doesn't do much to help Robredo's mood, who thinks he has put away a sharp volley but his foot touched the net to concede the point. It's two break points for Gasquet, and he takes the first when the number 17 seed nets with a forehand.

A well-placed shot from the baseline from Robredo forces Gasquet to net, but the Gasquet backhand already looks in good working order, and he uses it to fire a winner down the line for 30-15. Robredo fights back to take the game to deuce, but Gasquet earns game point with a thunderous forehand from the back of the court. A three-game lead is sealed when a first serve isn't returned, and it's another hold for Gasquet.

The backhand from Gasquet is a thing of beauty. He steps into court to hit one on the rise straight into the corner, but Robredo replies with an ace. The Spaniard speeds through the next two points to get on the board in the match.

When Gasquet's in this mood, there's not much that you can do. A forehand winner gives Robredo no chance of a retrieval, and it's 30-0. Robredo comes out on top after a lengthy exchange, but an easy volley takes the Frenchman to two game points. The first is saved, but the second is taken with an ace down the middle.

It looks like we could be in for a delay. There's a few spots of rain on the Hisense Arena court.

It looks like we are back. All that was needed was a quick wipe of the lines. Imagine if that's all it took at Wimbledon?

Both players come out firing after the short delay, and it's Robredo who has reacted better, striking an ace and a forehand winner for a 40-15 advantage. Gasquet powers a return back at Robredo, but the Spaniard seals the game with a sparkling backhand cross-court winner from about six yards behind the baseline. A definite contender for shot of the day.

Why doesn't Gasquet try to play like this against the top-four in the world? He has been magnificent, and another game is sealed with two backhands. The first was taken on the full and converted into the corner, while the second was flicked cross-court for another winner.

SET! The highlight reel for this set will be a good watch. Gasquet lets fly with a return that catches the line for 15-30, and another forehand into the corner earns two set points. He opts to move in during the next rally, forcing Robredo to net, and Gasquet goes a set up on the Hisense Arena.

A return winner gets Robredo off to an encouraging start to this second set, but Gasquet responds with three dominant points to seal the game. I thought that this match would be close, but Gasquet is playing to an extremely high level so far.

Robredo secures a hold to 15 with an ace out wide. He needs a few more of them! It appears as though the rain isn't a factor now...fingers crossed.

The opening two points are shared, before Gasquet opts to move his more experienced opponent around the court. Two game points are sealed with an ace, before the Frenchman moves Robredo around on the baseline before converting with a forehand winner.

Maybe we will have a game after all? Robredo is looking increasingly confident behind his serve, and another hold to 15 is confirmed with a backhand down the line.

Gasquet eases to 30-0, but Robredo replies with a fine winner cross-court. The Frenchman is unnerved though, and a smash into the open court ensures that the set remains on serve.

A hold to love for Robredo, which is the first of the match. The aggression that wasn't there in the first set is certainly here in the second.

Robredo is feeling this now, powering another winner past Gasquet, but the Frenchman stands up to the test well, moving to 40-15 with a precise forehand from the baseline. Robredo fights back to deuce, but a couple of timely first serves bring Gasquet through his most testing game of the match.

Gasquet blows a clear opening for 0-30, but he frames a backhand into the crowd and it's 15-15. The Spaniard takes another couple of points to serve for the game, but what was I saying about the rain? It's hammering it down in Melbourne, and we are going to have a delay while the roof is put in place. It's 40-30 to Robredo.

Who will the delay favour? I have no idea. Robredo was just finding his feet, and he will return having to take the opening point to seal the game, or face being thrown into deuce straight from the off.

While the roof slides over the Hisense Arena court, a mopping-up process is underway. When there was a couple of spots of rain earlier, only two or three people were needed, but there are about a dozen people on court right now. I can't see us getting started for at least another 20 minutes.

Good news. The court looked reasonably dry now, so it could be just a case of getting the players back on court.

The players are back! They will have to go through another warm-up routine, but we should be underway in just over five minutes.

No nerves from Robredo, who takes the first point upon the resumption with ease, and we are at 4-4.

Trouble for Gasquet, who misses with a hollywood backhand attempt from the back of the court, and he gives Robredo two break points when netting. The first is saved with an easy volley at the net, before Robredo frames a forehand from the baseline. Two more points from Gasquet, and he has forced Robredo to serve to try to remain in the set.

An excellent passing shot gets Robredo off to a positive start, before two big first serves take him to three game points. The Spaniard holds in about a minute when Gasquet nets another return.

BREAK! It has to be said that Gasquet has looked more ropey behind his serve since the restart. Robredo earns 0-30, and although he gets back to 30-30, Robredo catches the line with a forehand before sealing his first break of the match when Gasquet nets. Robredo will serve for the second set.

SET! Robredo records successive aces for 30-0, but Gasquet lets fly with a stunning backhand to halve the deficit. However, Robredo brings up two set points with a deep forehand, and it's sealed on the first with another ace. One set all.

A couple of forehand winners get Gasquet off to a good start, but Robredo moves around a return to hit a forehand winner for 30-30. However, the Frenchman holds firm to secure an important service hold.

BREAK! At the moment, Gasquet needs something special to break the Robredo serve and two stunning baseline winners get him to 30-30. The Frenchman brings up break point, and a sublime backhand winner down the line seals the break.

A double fault and a wayward backhand from Gasquet gift Robredo 15-30, but an excellent first serve levels the game. The pair exchange points to reach a second deuce, but a Robredo error and a Gasquet smash see the Frenchman move into a 3-0 advantage.

The real Richard Gasquet is beginning to stand up again, and he drills a backhand winner past a helpless Robredo. The Spaniard looks a bit more determined though, and three attacking points in a row see him win the game.

After sharing the first two points, the pair get embroiled in a long rally, which Gasquet wins when a frustrated Robredo nets with a forehand. However, the Spaniard takes two points in a row to create a break point, but Gasquet blasts a forehand winner into the corner to take the game to deuce. The number nine seed takes the game with yet another backhand down the line, and he regains his three-game lead.

Gasquet gets to 30-03 as he looks for the double break, but a long return gives game point to Robredo, which is converted with an easy volley at the net.

BREAK! Robredo is beginning to have more joy on the Gasquet serve, and the errors are beginning to come off the Gasquet forehand. Not a good combination. Robredo creates another break point with a forehand into the corner, and he takes it! Gasquet was in complete charge of the point, but he netted a forehand to ensure that the set is back on serve.

There's a few unforced errors coming from both men right now, and a poor forehand and a double fault from Robredo give Gasquet the opportunity to break serve, but the Frenchman is far too tentative and Robredo takes advantage. The same happens two points later, but Robredo doesn't offer a third chance, and we reach 4-4.

BREAK! For 30 minutes of this match, there appeared to be only one man in this match, but things have completely changed. Robredo breaks to 15 with a huge forehand down the line, and he will serve for the third set.

SET! Robredo continues to try to force the play, but two forehand mistakes hand Gasquet a 0-30 advantage. However, two aces in a row take him two away from the set, and a third bring up set point! Superb serving. It's not an ace, but another big first serve seals the third set for the Spaniard.

Gasquet begins the fourth with a hold to love. He needed that after wilting at the back end of that third set.

The Frenchman is down at the back of the court, but it's just a slip, nothing else. It's an easy hold for Robredo, who drives a backhand cross-court to seal the game.

The two players have taken their time to find their feet since returning to court before the start of the fourth set, but an intense rally at 40-15 indicates that they are ready to up the intensity. Robredo won that exchange, but he loses the game as Gasquet moves back in front.

Robredo is favouring the inside-out forehand a little too much. It gets him to 40-30, but he has used the same shot three points in a row. It's his undoing on the next, as he leaves too much space for Gasquet to arrow a backhand down the line for deuce. A couple of timely serves help Robredo out, and we remain on serve.

Robredo lets out a cry of frustration, and I don't blame him. He misses out with a forehand that would have given him 15 -30, but a double fault from Gasquet moves the score to 30-30. Another double makes it deuce, before the Frenchman loops a backhand long to give Robredo a break point. However, a couple of ruthless smashes from Gasquet overturn the score and a fortunate net cord allows him to hold onto his serve.

Some accomplished play from Robredo sees him move to three game points, before Gasquet unleashes a flat forehand winner to remain in the game. A return winner takes him to within a squeak of deuce, but Robredo directs a forehand behind the onrushing Frenchman to take the game.

That's a shocker from Robredo. After getting to 0-15, he frames a smash, and Gasquet converts one of his own to move to 30-15. The number nine seed has began stepping into the court a little more, and it's paying off, and he holds serve with a blistering backhand into the corner.

Gasquet presses the play to force a mistake out of Robredo, but he just misses out with an attempted pass at the net. However, more attacking play from Gasquet sees him step into court to put away a return, but an ace stops the number nine seed in his tracks. That's 13 for the Spaniard. Gasquet creates two chances to break, but Robredo somehow holds on level the game. Gasquet is certainly knocking at the door though...

Now then. An inspired return from Robredo moves the door slightly ajar at 15-30. Can he capitalise? The answer is no. Gasquet goes back on the attack, and Robredo has no answer. He must now serve to stay in the fourth set.

Robredo opens up a 30-0 lead, but a wayward forehand finds the tramlines. The Spaniard then steps in to force Gasquet on the defensive, and he takes the game with ease. The next 15 minutes could be tense though...

Gasquet shows no nerves whatsoever in striking his way to a 40-0 advantage, and the game is won with an effortless one-two off his serve. Robredo will serve to remain in the set for a second time.

Robredo flicks a forehand past the outstretched reach of Gasquet for 40-0, and he looks comfortable. However, a forehand into the net and a double fault take the score to 40-30, and a net cord allows Gasquet to convert a routine volley for deuce! Another mistake from Robredo, again off his forehand, and it is set point to Gasquet, but he connects perfectly for a baseline winner. Gasquet has a second chance, but it's saved once more by a forehand by Robredo. Gripping stuff. The Spaniard holds on after Gasquet nets a backhand smash on the run. He are heading into a tie-break.

What a start to the tie-break. Robredo earns the mini-break with a forehand winner, but Gasquet replies in kind with a ridiculous backhand from behind the baseline. It's Gasquet who has the mini-break after a net cord sends a Robredo shot wide, and the Spaniard's frustration grows when a return misses its target. A smash from Gasquet takes the score to 4-1, but Robredo stops the rot when his opponent goes long.

An ace from Robredo reduces the deficit to one, and Gasquet makes a complete hash of a backhand slice to take the score back to 4-4. So close from Robredo, who marginally misses with a forehand, but he gets a bit of luck when Gasquet hits the top of the tape without going over the net. It's match point to Robredo after a huge ace. Can Gasquet save it? Yes he can! Gasquet converts a backhand winner.

MATCH! Robredo returns a second serve with interest, and he has a second match point, but this time, it's on his own serve. Two lets in a row build the tension, but he takes the match when Gasquet nets a backhand.

At one point, Gasquet looked in charge of that tie-break, but it wasn't to be for the Frenchman. Robredo was second best before the rain delay midway through the second set, but on his return, he has performed considerably better than the number nine seed to book his place in the last 16.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match, but if you want more tennis, you can move over to our coverage of Novak Djokovic's match with Denis Istomin. Goodbye for now.