Feliciano Lopez has admitted that he was forced to play his best tennis to see off the challenge of Jerzy Janowicz in the third round of the Australian Open.
The 33-year-old sealed his place in the last 16 of the competition for the second time in his career as he defeated the Pole in straight sets, but required two tie-breakers to achieve the victory in a hard-fought match.
Lopez said after the game: "It was a very tough battle, a very tough match. Jerzy is a very difficult player to play; he has good hands a huge serve so I knew that the match was going to very close.
"I was lucky in the end that I managed to play my best tennis to go through. I feel very fortunate to be in the fourth round, I saved four or five match points in the previous round, which I was gifted somehow.
"I took the chance and I feel I played good tennis today so I am glad to be in the fourth round."
Lopez will play Milos Raonic in the fourth round of the tournament.
Simon Sinclair
