Now that the grand slam door is finally ajar, Ajla Tomljanovic is intent on bursting through it.
Her injury struggles seemingly behind her, Tomljanovic heads into her all-Australian first-round US Open showdown with ambitious young wildcard Lizette Cabrera on Tuesday at her highest ranking in more than three years.
The one-time world No.47 is back on the cusp of the top 50 and eager to capitalise after copping grand slam finalists Lucie Safarova, Madison Keys and the fourth-ranked Elina Svitlona in the opening round at the year's first three majors.
The US Open will be broadcast live on SBS and SBS OnDemand from the quarterfinals.
"Definitely I would like to win a couple of rounds, if possible," Tomljanovic told AAP in New York.
"My record this year at slams has been tough, getting a couple of tough first rounds but I'm just hoping to maybe turn it around here.
"The last month or so it's come together in matches and in tournaments and it's nice to see."
Not that she's taking Cabrera lightly.
The 20-year-old Queenslander won Australia's wildcard play-off in convincing fashion to earn her place in the main draw for the first time at an overseas slam.
"I've seen her a lot," Tomljanovic said.
"Whenever there's a slam. I think it's completely open so I don't see it as an easy draw or anything like that.
"I feel if I play well, obviously I'll have a good chance of doing well but everyone in the main draw has the ability to beat anybody."
And Cabrera fully believes she can beat Tomljanovic.
"I'm going to give it a crack," she said.
"When Ajla was practising in Brisbane a couple of years ago, we practised a bit here and there but I haven't seen her so much recently.
"I'll just go out there and compete really hard and hopefully it will be a good match and I'll come off with the win.
"This is a really good opportunity to help with my ranking and hopefully get me in the top 100.
"I'll just keep believing and believe I belong here."
