Number 12 seed Feliciano Lopez has edged out Jerzy Janowicz to claim a straight-sets 7-6(6) 6-4 7-6(3) victory in the third round of the Australian Open.
Lopez began the game well as he raced into a 3-0 lead in the first set, only to be pegged back by the Pole who levelled the set with a break of his own.
Both players then held serve to take the set to a tie-breaker, where the Spaniard upped his game to clinch an 8-6 victory.
The second set was more straightforward for the 33-year-old as he earned a crucial break in Janowicz's second service game of the set due to an unforced error from the Pole. The 24-year-old was unable to battle back as Lopez claimed the set 6-4.
Both players produced excellent tennis in the third as the match went on serve throughout the set to force another tie-breaker as neither could make a breakthrough.
The 33-year-old produced his best when it mattered most once again as he took the tie-breaker 7-3 to secure the match just over two-and-a-half hours.
Lopez will face off against Milos Raonic in the fourth round of the competition.
Simon Sinclair
