Novak Djokovic hits a return to David Ferrer during their final tennis match at Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.(Reuters)
Novak Djokovic hits a return to David Ferrer during their final tennis match at Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.(Reuters)

Except for close second and third sets in separate matches for David Ferrer and Novak Djokovic, the top seeds had little trouble in their respective third round match-ups in the men’s singles competition of the 2014 Australian Open.

Both advanced to the Round of 16 and are set to play unheralded but dangerous opponents Sunday afternoon in Melbourne.

Ferrer beat France’s Jeremy Chardy, 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-2 while Djokovic beat Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. The third and second seeds in the first Grand Slam of the year are set to meet in the semifinal round if they can win their next two matches.

In the Round of 16, Ferrer draws with Germany’s Florian Mayer, who advanced with a win over Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2. Djokovic is paired with Fabio Fognini, who defeated USA’s Sam Querrey, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.

David Ferrer (SPA) vs. Florian Mayer (GER) at 2:00 p.m. AEDT
Match Odds: Ferrer (1.23) vs. Mayer (4.20)
Game Handicap: Ferrer (-5.5) vs. Mayer (+5.5)

All-time head-to-head (7 meetings): Ferrer leads Mayer, 4-3

Mayer actually won his first two career matches versus Ferrer but both came way back in 2004 and 2005 and on clay courts. Ferrer then won four straight from 2006 to 2011-- including two meetings at the US Open. The German has won the last match-up in the Round of 16 of the ATP World Tour Masters Shanghai in 2013 with a straight sets victory, 6-4, 6-3.

Prediction: Mayer def. Ferrer in five sets, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5

Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs. Novak Djokovic at 2:00 p.m. AEDT
Match Odds: Fognini (17.0) vs. Djokovic (1.02)
Game Handicap: Fognini (+9.5) vs. Djokovic (-9.5)

All-time head-to-head (6): Djokovic leads Fognini, 6-0

Djokovic has won six straight matches against the Italian from 2009 to 2013-- in dominating fashion losing just 2 sets in 14 sets played throughout their six match-ups. Three came in 2013 with the last one coming in the Round of 16 of the ATP World Tour Masters Shanghai with a 6-3, 6-3 victory.

Prediction: Djokovic in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2

Day 6 (Saturday, January 16) Results – Third Round

S. Wawrinka (SUI) def. V. Pospisil (CAN), walkover
S. Robert (FRA) def. M. Klizan (SVK), 6-0, 7-6 (2), 6-4
R. Federer (SUI) def. T. Gabashvili (RUS), 6-2, 6-2, 6-3
G. Dimitrov (BUL) def. M. Raonic (CAN), 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (10)
R. Bautista-Agut (SPA) def. B. Paire, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4
A. Murray (GBR) def. 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-2
J. Tsonga (FrA) def. G. Simon (FRA), 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-2
K. Nishkori (JPN) def. D. Young (USA), 7-5, 6-1, 6-0
R. Nadal (SPA) def. G. Monfils, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3

Watch Round of 16 matches of the 2014 Australian Open at AO TV Live via the tournament's official website.