Now that she's seen off Serena Williams, Ajla Tomljanovic is drawing inspiration from the retired legend as she chases the ultimate US Open glory in New York.
Tomljanovic's gripping three-set third-round triumph over Williams on Friday has thrust the 29-year-old into uncharted territory - a coveted place in the second week at Flushing Meadows for the first time.
Already assured of forever holding a place in tennis history as the last player to beat the 23-times grand slam champion, Tomljanovic hopes the momentous victory doesn't quite prove career-defining.
After years battling injuries and self-doubts, the Australian No.1 has ambitions of being a major winner herself.
Beating Williams in the sport's biggest arena, where 23,859 spectators exceeded the official capacity and turned Arthur Ashe Stadium into more of a cauldron for the American great's last-ever match, was merely further vindication that Tomljanovic is a new player these days.
Backing up her breakout run to last year's Wimbledon quarter-finals with a repeat effort six weeks ago already ensured that.
And overcoming the nerves and fears of facing Williams in such a pressure-filled setting was another giant stride forward for a talent once crippled by mental demons.
"I have faith in myself, but at the same time I have a little bit of doubt," Tomljanovic said ahead of her fourth-round clash with Russian Liudmila Samsonova on Sunday (about 9am Monday AEST).
"I know that that's just coming from that bad side of Ajla that always has some doubt, like every normal person.
"It was just about channelling the positive sides in me. I know I've put in the work over the last few months. Deep down I know I deserve to have that shot (against Williams).
"It was just about channelling those emotions instead of the ones that are the bad Ajla."
Declaring her rousing win over the former world No.1 "already kind of in the past", Tomljanovic planned to carry a piece of the Williams legacy with her into her match against Samsonova.
"Growing up, I didn't really have idols, but Serena and Venus were just so good that I looked up to them the most," said the Croatian-born star.
"What always drew me to them was their bond with their family, like the togetherness. They always spoke about that, like it was so important to them.
"I can relate to that because I'm very close to my family and I wouldn't be where I am without them.
"From a young age I remember seeing them with their dad and thinking that's kind of like my story a little bit.
"Just the fact that you don't have to have anything other than supportive family, a dream, and just will and passion and love for the game to make it.
"Not just make it, but what she's achieved is absolutely incredible. I don't know if it's ever going to be repeated while I'm still around.
"I still have years left in me. I want to dream bigger than I have so far because that's what she embodies."
Victory over Samsonova, a winner of two US Open lead-up events, would earn Tomljaovic a quarter-final against either Tunisia's fifth-seeded Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur or Veronika Kudermetova, also of Russia.
She would be the first Australian to reach the women's last eight at Flushing Meadows since Samantha Stosur in 2012, the year after Stosur conquered Williams to win the title.
