Richard battled past Russian Igor Andreev in four sets 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 on Friday at Melbourne Park to set up a fourth round meeting with compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
45 winners from Richard and ten aces helped him to secure the victory which puts him in the fourth round of the Australian Open for the second time.
In Sunday's last 16 clash Richard will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who he beat in their most recent encounter in AMS Paris last year. He leads the head-to-head 2-1.
Allez Richard!