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Dimitrov on course for Murray rematch

Grigor Dimitrov was made to work by unseeded Lukas Lacko © Getty Images

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Grigor Dimitrov stayed on course for a fourth-round showdown with Andy Murray after the tenth seed saw off Lukas Lacko at the Australian Open.

Slovakian Lacko briefly levelled the match at one set each before Dimitrov powered through for a 6-3 6-7(10) 6-3 6-3 win.

Dimitrov beat Murray, who eased past Marinko Matosevic in straight sets, at Wimbledon last year when the British No.1 was defending his title.

When asked if he thought he could win his first grand slam in Australia, Dimitrov said: "Of course I'd say yes, but that's something that I definitely need to show throughout all the matches and be even more consistent.

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"I'm ready, but before you get to the final or something like that, you need to go through quite a few players that are the top right now and playing their greatest tennis.

"The game has evolved so much in the past years that instead of getting easier, it's getting harder.

Another man who caused an upset at SW19 last year when he knocked out Rafael Nadal, Australian Nick Kyrgios, took the Melbourne Park crowd through a rollercoaster of emotions before seeing off 23rd-seed Ivo Karlovic 7-6(4) 6-4 5-7 6-4.

No such drama for newly-engaged Tomas Berdych though. The seventh seed conceded just 10 games in a 7-6(0) 6-2 6-2 victory over Jurgen Melzer.

Frenchman Richard Gasquet and Jeremy Chardy are both through. Gasquet, the 24th seed, saw off Australia's James Duckworth 6-2 6-3 7-5, while 29th seed Chardy needed for sets to see off Andreas Seppi 7-5 3-6 6-2 6-1.

Other than Nadal's tie with Tim Smyczek, two other men's matches went to five sets on Wednesday.

In an all-Australian tie, Sam Groth edged Thanasi Kokkinakis 3-6 6-3 7-5 3-6 6-1, while Tunisia's Malek Jaziri beat France's Edouard Roger-Vasselin 1-6 6-3 6-4 1-6 6-3.

In the evening match, local favourite Bernard Tomic came from behind in a lengthy four-setter with 22nd seed Philipp Kohlschreiber, which he won 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(6) 7-6(5).

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