The hottest player of the summer stands between Samantha Stosur and a place in the third round of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.

And it’s not Serena Williams.

No, Tsvetana Pironkova is Stosur’s next roadblock.

The Bulgarian may not be a household name in Australia, but she needs no introduction to Stosur.

The world No.57 is riding a tour-best nine-match unbeaten streak in 2014 after becoming the first qualifier in three years to win a WTA Tour title last week in Sydney.

A former Wimbledon semi-finalist, Pironkova peeled off eight successive victories and took down three top-eight rivals en route to her maiden title.

The 25-year-old has carried the form of her life to Melbourne, thumping Silvia Soler-Espinosa in straight sets in the opening round.

“To go through quallies and win a tournament as tough as what Sydney was, she must be playing very well,” Stosur said.

Stosur has beaten Pironkova in all three previous meetings and dished out a 6-1 6-4 hiding in their last event of 2013, the Tournament of Champions in Sofia in October.

“Completely different circumstances,” Stosur said.

“Court was indoor, very slow, gritty court in Sofia. It’s going to be a different ball game.

“I know what to expect a little bit, but she must be in pretty decent form to have gone through and have won Sydney.”

If Stosur can find a way past Pironkova, the former US Open champion is expected to meet 14th seed Ana Ivanovic in the third round, with world No.1 Serena Williams likely to be lying in wait in the fourth round.

Casey Dellacqua and Matt Ebden will also be vying for spots in the third round on Wednesday.

Dellacqua faces 2013 Wimbledon semi-finalist and 18th seed Kirsten Flipkens for the first time and said she’d lean on fellow West Australian left-hander Storm Sanders for tips.

Sanders pushed the Belgian to a third-set tiebreaker in Hobart last week.

“I know I can gain a lot from her and take that into the match,” Dellacqua said.

“I have seen a lot of her play. So taking that one into consideration, it will be a tough match. She’s a seeded player here.

“But I also believe that if I do all the right things and I compete hard and I can execute well, I certainly have a good shot.”

Ebden will be backing up from his sapping five-set first-round win over Nicolas Mahut when he plays Canadian 28th seed Vasek Pospisil.