Duckworth is looking to become the fourth Australian to advance to the men’s round of 16 since the reintroduction of tennis as an Olympic Games sport in 1988.

Only Todd Woodbridge (Atlanta 1996), Mark Philippoussis (Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000) and Lleyton Hewitt (London 2012) have previously progressed this far in the past.

“I played him once last year, indoors in Russia. I lost then. He is a quality player, and he made quarters of Wimby just recently,” Duckworth said ahead of the match.

“He hits the ball pretty big and plays pretty aggressive.

“I’m going to have to serve well to beat him. I think I’m playing some pretty good tennis and I think it will be a good match.”

Earlier this month, Duckworth posted his career best Grand Slam result reaching the third round at Wimbledon. He defeated Slovakia’s Lukas Klein 5-7 6-3 7-6(4) in his first-round match in Tokyo.

Khachanov, who has been in the world’s top 25 since October 2018, made the Wimbledon quarter-finals earlier this month. He dispatched local hope Yoshihito Nishioka 3-6 6-1 6-2 in the first round.

The Australian women’s doubles pairings of Ash Barty and Storm Sanders and Sam Stosur and Ellen Perez will compete in the women’s doubles quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The mixed doubles draw will be released later today.

Harriet Rendle

#HaveAGo at Tennis