Born-again Mirjana Lucic-Baroni will ride a wave of emotion into her Australian Open semi-final against Serena Williams.
Eighteen years after her only previous visit to the last four at a grand slam, the unseeded Croatian - who spent much of the past decade away from the professional circuit - continued her winning run at Melbourne Park with a topsy-turvy 6-4 3-6 6-4 upset of No.5 seed Karolina Pliskova.
Lucic-Baroni says she may one day tell the full story of her life, having previously claimed she was abused from an early age by her father Marinko.
But this is not that time.
This is a joyous time.
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"I know this means a lot to any player to reach the semis, but for me it is overwhelming. I can't believe it - this is crazy," said Lucic-Baroni.
"I felt like these results were missing, for sure. This is what I've been dreaming about, this is what I've been training for.
"At 34 years old, like I've said before, I have a wonderful home and I'm happily married.
"I would be perfectly okay being at home enjoying my family.
"But I really knew deep down in my soul that I have these results in me.
"To now be here and actually live these moments, it's incredible."
Lucic-Baroni took a medical break when trailing 4-3 in the final set on Wednesday against the big-serving Pliskova to have treatment on her heavily-strapped left thigh.
The rejuvenated Croatian returned to win the next two games to love and and then served the match out after reaching into her bag for a rosary.
"When I took the medical timeout, I wasn't really sure how I was feeling," she said.
"I felt in that moment only God can help me.
"It was just something I didn't think about, something that helped me be strong."
The 34-year-old Lucic-Baroni and 35-year-old Williams will only get 24 hours to recuperate before squaring off in the semi, with the American chasing a record 23rd major crown.
Their only two previous encounters were way back in 1998, with Williams winning both times.
"She's a great champion - I'm not bad myself," said Lucic-Baroni.
"I think it will be a good match. I will work hard. I will fight hard. And we'll see.
"Hopefully it will be fun."
Pliskova was riding a nine-match winning streak coming into Wednesday's match, having begun the year by claiming the Brisbane International title.
"I could still play better, serve better and return better," said the Czech, who lost year's US Open final to Angelique Kerber.
"But it's about also (Lucic-Baroni's) game, it's not only about me this time.
"She played just a little bit better, and I was just unlucky in the end."
