TC Plus Match of the Day: David Goffin vs. Karen Khachanov, Barcelona

Each weekday, we'll preview one must-see match that you'll find on Tennis Channel Plus, the digital network for the devoted tennis fan. To subscribe to Tennis Channel Plus, go to BuyTCPlus.com

On Thursday, world No. 10 David Goffin takes on 21-year-old Karen Khachanov in the Tennis Channel Plus Match of the Day.

Both players have one match under their belts in Barcelona, as Goffin defeated Marcel Granollers, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2, in the round of 32 on Tuesday; Khachanov beat Leonardo Mayer, 6-4, 6-3, on Wednesday.

Goffin is one of the more intriguing players in the tournament, as he was the world No. 7 as recently as the end of 2017. The Belgian is back from a freak eye injury he suffered in February at Rotterdam, in which the ball deflected off his racquet in a match with Grigor Dimitrov. Goffin missed the Marseille and Indian Wells tournaments, along with the Davis Cup quarterfinals, before returning to action in Miami.

On clay, and back in Europe, Goffin had a decent run in Monte Carlo last week, beating both Stefanos Tsitsipas and Roberto Bautista Agut in straight sets before falling to Dimitrov in the quarterfinals. (No eye was harmed this time.)

Match point from David Goffin's win over Marcel Granollers in Barcelona:

Khachanov's opening-round match in this tournament was a bit more straightforward than Goffin's, and he should be feeling good about the way he is playing on clay so far. Khachanov won each of his first two matches in Monte Carlo in straight sets before running into Rafael Nadal in the tournament's round of 16. The eventual champion won that match 6-3, 6-2, but one would think that the 21-year-old Khachanov improved by simply getting the experience of playing against somebody like Rafa on clay.

For these two players, this will be the fourth ever meeting on the ATP tour. Goffin has gotten the best of this matchup, winning three of their four matches. One of those was wins came earlier this year in Montpellier, where Goffin won 6-4, 6-4.

On clay, the two have split two meetings, and Khachanov's win actually came in this very tournament one year ago. That was a 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-4 score, and the competitiveness of that match is a big reason why we're excited for the Barcelona rematch on Thursday.

ATP Barcelona Outer Courts (4/23-4/26)

-Catch all the action from Barcelona with outer-court coverage live on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Monday April 23 at 5 a.m. ET