Novak Djokovic began his campaign for a fourth successive grand slam title with a 7-6 (7/3) 6-3 6-1 victory over Italy's Potito Starace at the French Open this afternoon.

Because of a major systems failure there was no internet access around Melbourne Park for more than four hours yesterday. Officials here at the Australian Open had to stay in touch via walkie-talkies, umpires had to record scores with pen and paper.

Novak Djokovic is hoping a routine first week at the Australian Open will have conserved his energy levels as he looks to retain his title in Melbourne.

Two five-set contests in three days proved too much for John Isner on Friday and his exit left the United States without a single man standing in the last 16 of the Australian Open for the first time since 1973.

Bernard Tomic has had negative press aplenty – he's walked off court, berated officials and fallen out with Lleyton Hewitt – but can he now make happy headlines and sate desire for a home hero?

It is part of the charm of any sport that a contest apparently heading in only one direction can suddenly be transformed, often with no obvious explanation. While the Centre Court crowd were experiencing something similar yesterday, it happened twice in the same match on Court One before Novak Djokovic, seeded second, saw off the 18-year-old qualifier Bernard Tomic 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reach his fifth successive Grand Slam semi-final.

Contrast of the day. Walter Bartoli was his usual nervous presence courtside yesterday – what was the former doctor's bedside manner like? – with his constant fidgeting and frowning up in the players' box (his wife kept a spare seat between them).

Despite the consensus that there have only ever been four legitimate contenders, the men's tournament remains animated by plenty of colour and quality on the periphery.

Fifth seed Robin Soderling came back from the brink of becoming the biggest casualty so far at this year's Wimbledon as he recovered from two sets down to beat Lleyton Hewitt in a thriller under the Centre Court roof.

One of the spectators in Andy Murray's courtside box during his win over Jürgen Melzer had a funny turn here last night. Billy Connolly, who is on a tour of Australia, performed at Melbourne's State Theatre after spending the afternoon watching Murray, having accepted his fellow Scot's invitation to join his entourage in Rod Laver Arena.