Reigning Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka remains on course to defend his title with a straight-sets win over Jarkko Nieminen in the third round of the tournament.

Both players started the match in good form as neither could find a break in the opening service games, and that remained until the Swiss produced an excellent spell of tennis steal the first set 6-4 in what proved to be the final game.

Wawrinka maintained his impressive form from the final game of the first as he dominated the early stages of the second, racing into a 4-0 lead with two breaks of serve. Nieminen managed to get a break back and hold, but the number four seed regained his touch to take the set 6-2.

The Finn did make a breakthrough in the third set as he forced a break to take a 2-1 lead, but he failed to hold against the number four seed as the Swiss levelled in the next game.

Wawrinka produced his best when it mattered once again as he put the pressure on Nieminen's service game after taking a 5-4 lead. The 29-year-old earned three break points, but only needed one to take the third set 6-4 and with it the match.

The Swiss will play either Vasek Pospisil or Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the fourth round of the competition.