Roger Federer plays Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro in Tuesday's quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
The last time these two met at the Australian Open, Federer ran out a 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 winner in the 2009 quarters. However despite his inspired performance against Bernard Tomic on Sunday night, the Swiss is convinced it's going to be tougher this time round.
"I think it's going to be a good match. Look, I think he's coming back awfully strong again," Federer said. "I was sad to see that he was out for so long after his amazing year in 2009. I thought he had a chance in 2010 to sort of make a run for world No. 1. Injury came and things obviously changed, and now he's had to have a great year to get back in the top 15, I think, and now he's making his move to the top 10."
"It's nice is to see him back. He's a good guy. I'm looking forward to the match. I think it's going to be a tough one. He really came through convincingly in the last two especially. And, yeah, we know the firepower. I played him in Cincinnati six months ago. It was super fast. It's going to be different. We'll have many more rallies, so for me, a chance to mix it up, but I have to stay aggressive myself, as well."
Federer won 6-3, 7-5 that day in Cincinnati and he does lead the head-to-head 7-2 but when Del Potro was at his best at the end of 2009, there were signs he was getting an edge over the Swiss, beating him at two of his favourite stomping grounds - the US Open and the ATP World Tour Finals.
Del Potro has played some fine tennis over the past two rounds and he thumped Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4. 6-2, 6-1 on Sunday. This one could go the distance but look for Federer to sneak through.
