In an interesting third round encounter, rising star Grigor Dimitrov and former finalist Marcos Baghdatis will meet to determine who will advance to the fourth round of the Australian Open. This marks the seventh time that the two competitors will meet on the professional tour with Dimitrov leading the head to head series 5-1..

Watch the match here: Dimitrov v Baghdatis Live

The Bulgarian No. 1 needed four sets to advance to the third round in Melbourne. He defeated Lukas Lacko 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 to set up his match-up against a former finalist at the event. Dimitrov hit 14 aces, 64 winners and won 86% of his first service points to close out the match in 2 hours and 49 minutes.

“I know him well enough. I think we’ve played once or twice before. Can be a dangerous player. I mean, of course he’s playing pretty flat. He moves all around the court pretty well. He played a really good second set. After that I had a good momentum throughout the whole match. I think I was in control ever since that set.”

In a surprising upset on Wednesday afternoon, former finalist Marcos Baghdatis upset rising star David Goffin in four sets to advance to the third round of the Australian Open. He won the match 6-1, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 to storm into the following round of the tournament fuelled with the memories of his past achievement on these courts. He fired 16 aces, 44 winners and won 72 % of his first service points to close out the match in 2 hours and 32 minutes.

This marks the seventh time that Dimitrov and Baghdatis meet on the professional tour and could shape up to be one of their more enthralling encounters to date. Given the Cypriot’s performances over the past couple of days, this has all the makings of a four or five set battle.

Prediction: Grigor Dimtrov in Four Sets