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By David Ornstein
FIRST SET:Baltacha 1-6 Safina
Facial expressions would suggests Baltacha knows it’s all going a bit Pete Tong out there. She actually takes the initiative with a fine winner and lets out a huge yelp of “c’mon!”. But Safina levels at 30-30 with a rasping ace, brings up set point with a superb drive volley and takes the set when Bally nets a backhand.
**** denotes NEXT serverBaltacha 1-5 Safina***
You can’t expect to beat a player of Safina’s class with a first serve percentage of 50%. Bally really isn’t firing out there. For the second time in as many games she double faults when facing a break point and Safina will now serve for the set.
**** denotes NEXT serverBaltacha 1-4 Safina
Oh how Safina would dream of playing every service game like that one. Baltacha can’t get close to the world number two’s thumping groundstokes and is now closing in on the opening set.
**** denotes NEXT serverBaltacha 1-3 Safina**
If Bally’s first service game was nervy, her second was very, very nervy. She’s making numerous unforced errors on both forehand and backhand sides and her first serve is not firing. The Brit double faults to hand Safina another break of serve. Oh dear.
**** denotes NEXT serverBaltacha 1-2 Safina
As we’ve seen so often in the past, Safina is her own worst enemy. She opened up with such a confident service game but Baltacha applies a bit of pressure and the Russian can’t cope. The British number one has the break back and we’re back on serve. Coverage up and running on BBC Two.
**** denotes NEXT serverBaltacha 0-2 Safina**
A nervy opening service game from Baltacha. Safina applies precious little pressure but still does enough to secure an early break of serve due to a succession of unforced errors from the British number one. The crowds finally starting to stream in. Bally needs to get it together.
**** denotes NEXT serverBaltacha 0-1 Safina
Baltacha has looked in fine form so far at Melbourne Park, winning each of her opening two matches quite comfortably. But, lets face it, nobody is expecting her to beat Safina. That said, shespoke confidently of her chances coming into the matchand makes a steady start on Rod Laver. Safina nets to give the British number one 0-15 but a couple of unforced errors from Baltacha hand her opponent two game points and the Russian gets her nose in front with a well-timed winner.
**** denotes NEXT server0010:* Safina to serve first in front of a scattering of spectators on Rod Laver.5 live’s Jonathan Overend on Twitter:](http://twitter.com/5livetennis)"Baltacha hit at 930am on RLA with Nigel Sears, Nino Severino and Kirk Bowyer. A good team! Obligatory photo after, infront of ARoddick"0005: The players are out on Rod Laver Arena and Safina has won the toss. As always, the 5 live team will be giving regular updates on Up All Night and later I believe there will be live commentary of Andy Murray against Florent Serra. Murray will be live on BBC 2 from approximately 0330 GMT and streamed here on the website.
0000: It pains me to remind you that the last time Safina met a British number one in a Grand Slam tournament - the lovely Anne Keothavong at the 2009 French Open - she won 6-0 6-0.2355: But first up it’s British number one Elena Baltacha against world number two Dinara Safina. Can she Will she Get involved in the chatby Tweeting me](http://twitter.com/davidornstein)or via **text on 81111 (UK) and +44 7786200666 (worldwide).**2352: Over the course of the next eight hours or so we’ll be feasting over the likes of Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin del Potro and Andys Murray and Roddick, Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin, Sveta Kuznetsova and Jelena Jankovic.2350: G’day and welcome to day five of the 2010 Australian Open. A quick glance atFriday’s order of playsuggests this has all the makings of an absolute belter.