For the first time since their earlier encounter at the Australian Open, British No. 1 Andy Murray and surging Aussie sensation Nick Kyrgios will meet for a spot in the fourth round of the French Open. This is just the third time that these two competitors will meet on the tour, with the Murray vs Kyrgios head to head standing at 2-0.

Seeded third at this year’s French Open, Andy Murray required four sets to secure his spot in the third round of the tournament. In the end, however, he managed to extend his unbeaten clay court win streak to 12 when he defeated Joao Sousa 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. Following a slump during the second set. Murray took command of the match once again and was able to cruise for the remainder of the proceeding to hand himself his 33rd match win this season.

“I’m not disputing that today, good chance I played too slow on a number of occasions, and obviously I got punished for it. I’m just saying from a player’s perspective, it’s difficult to know because we have no clue. It’s just your…. I don’t know. Yeah, you’re guessing in a way. You’re just trying to play a good speed. And, yeah, obviously today I wasn’t.”

Murray will next encounter a player who will have rested for four consecutive days before stepping out on court against the Scot. Nick Kyrgios was scheduled to face another Brit in Kyle Edmund, who qualified for the tournament but was forced to withdraw from the contest ahead of his opportunity to reach the third round of the tournament.

This is just the third time that Murray and Kyrgios will clash on the tour, yet the stakes are far greater this time around. Murray cruised through their first encounter at the Rogers Cup in Toronto 6-2, 6-2, but faced far more resistance during his second encounter with the Aussie, where he was pushed to the limit before reaching the semi-final stage in Melbourne. This encounter is set to be another thrilling affair between two players with fun chemistry. However, Murray should find a way to remain undefeated in his rivalry against the young Aussie.