The well may have looked dry but Nick Kyrgios has turned it on "like a tap" to secure a Brisbane International semi-final berth.
Australian No.1 Kyrgios was at his unpredictable best after overcoming a sluggish start and a knee complaint to overpower Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov 1-6 6-3 6-4 at Pat Rafter Arena.
He will face top seed and defending champion Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, who defeated Briton Kyle Edmund in their quarter-final on Friday night.
World No.21 Kyrgios initially looked almost disinterested in his quarterfinal, lumbering around with his left knee strapped after tweaking it in his second-round victory over compatriot Matthew Ebden.
However, after conceding the first set in just 22 minutes the dual grand slam quarterfinalist then flicked the switch - because he can.
Asked about his lethargic start, Kyrgios said: "As bad as it is to say, it's kind of like a tap - I can turn it on when I want to.
"That's just me, I guess. Very unpredictable - don't really know how I'm going to come out.
"But if a boxer puts his gloves down in a boxing ring, I wouldn't really call it tanking so it's just a strategy and obviously it worked again today."
Kyrgios will enter what appears to be a wide open Australian Open field with Andy Murray (hip) out and a question mark over the likes of perennial contenders Rafael Nadal (knee), Novak Djokovic (elbow) and Stan Wawrinka (knee).
Kyrgios still did his best to play down expectations as Australia still waits for it first men's grand slam champion since Lleyton Hewitt in 2002.
Mark Edmondson was the last Australian to win the Australian Open men's title in 1976.
"I'm not going to put too much pressure on myself now for the Australian Open," said Kyrgios, who failed to advance past the second round in 2017 grand slams.
"I'm not thinking too far ahead.
"You don't want to ride out the highs too high because I know that there's going to be some periods this year where I'm going to be in some pretty brutal places.
"If I don't do well in these couple weeks, I'm not going to lose sleep over it - I know there's going to be plenty more chances for me to do well."
Kyrgios said he would monitor his knee but did not believe it was an Australian Open concern.
"I am just managing it but I am feeling good," he said.
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