Although it was not the cleanest of matches on his part, 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer found his way into the third round of the Australian Open in four sets and will now look to further his campaign when he meets Italy’s Andreas Seppi for the 11th time on the professional tour. Federer holds a 10-0 undefeated Head to Head record against Seppi and will look to maintain that unblemished streak en route to the fourth round of the event.

Watch the match live here: Federer vs Seppi Live

Following a tight start to the previous round match, second seed Roger Federer quickly foud himself a set down and in need of a change of pace. He managed to turn the tides on his Italian opponent Simone Bolelli and won the next three sets with total command of the match. Federer, who won 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, hit 15 aces, 36 winners and won 79% of his first service point to earn the victory.

“I thought he played two really good sets against me in Davis Cup, so I felt like he was really, you know, imposing his strength at the baseline. I could sense there that he had a good forehand; committed, you know, on the return; solid backhand with the option to hit the slice. I wasn’t that surprised, to be honest, you know. I was just surprised how well, how consistently he was doing that, and especially how well he was serving actually. But then again, conditions were fast, which made it easier to serve well and harder to return.

“Maybe the break, I shouldn’t be broken, but he was really playing very well from the baseline. I guess in these conditions sometimes a break can be a set. That’s when I was under pressure for a while in the second set, but I’m happy I fought my way out of it.”

Italy’s Andreas Seppi also advanced to the third round in four sets, as he defeated France’s Jeremy Chardy to secure his spot. He won the match 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 in 2 hours and 32 minutes. He struck 8 aces, 31 winners and won 76% of his first service points.

This marks the 11th time that these two competitors will cross paths on the professional tour and the first time since a 2013 meeting in Shanghai. Seppi was unable to tarnish Federer’s record against him during Federer’s worst season on the tour, and he will certainly not be able to stand in his way this time around either.

Prediction: Roger Federer in Straight Sets