Ashleigh Barty is on guard against a US Open ambush as she plots to break her third-round jinx and reach the second week of a grand slam for the first time.
The 22-year-old will rarely get a better chance but is refusing to count her chickens in the increasingly unpredictable world of women's tennis.
Barty has cruised into the last 32 with authoritative wins over Ons Jabeur and Lucie Safarova and will start a short-priced favourite to venture further when she takes on little-known Karolina Muchova on Friday.
But Australia's 18th seed is suitably wary of the Czech qualifier, who announced her arrival on the big stage with a stunning prime-time win over former world No.1 and dual grand slam champion Garbine Muguruza on Wednesday night.
Contesting her maiden major, Muchova's victory from a set down on Louis Armstrong Stadium was only her second at WTA level and had Barty's coach Craig Tyzzer and Tennis Australia's performance analyser Darren McMurtrie poring over footage of the world No.202.
Her variety and aggression unsettled Muguruza and Barty knows she and her team need to do their home work.
"It sounds terrible but I've never seen her name in a draw," Barty said.
"To be honest, I've never seen her. I couldn't even tell you what she looks like in the locker room, which is poor on my behalf."
After four unsuccessful attempts in her past seven slams - including last year in New York - to break the third-round barrier, Barty is desperate to crack the last 16 at a major.
"I've had a few third rounds now and would love to go to a fourth round and to get past that hurdle," she said.
"But you've got to keep putting yourself in that position to give yourself that chance."
Win or lose, Australia's top-ranked player is already assured of entering the world's top 15 for the first time and heads into her clash with Muchova in a confident mood after a strong start to the Open.
"Overall they've been two good clinical matches," Barty said.
"When I've been ahead, I've been able to put my foot on the gas a little bit and not let them back in.
"And I've been looking after my service games really well, which is giving me an opportunity to get into my return games."
Success against Muchova would pit Barty in a meeting with either eighth-seeded 2016 Open runner-up Karolina Pliskova or American prodigy Sofia Kenin for a spot in the quarter-finals.
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