A new-found "nothing to lose" approach could deliver the ultimate reward for Caroline Wozniacki as she chases down a long-overdue maiden major crown.
Ever since saving two match points before overcoming Croatian journeywoman Jana Fett in the second round of the Australian Open, the world No.2 has joked she is playing with "house money" at Melbourne Park.
That relaxed approach was perfectly exemplified by the spectacular tweener she hit in the fourth-round win over Magdalena Rybarikova.
Never mind that Rybarikova easily won the point - it's former world No.1 Wozniacki who looks as well placed as anyone to claim a wide-open women's crown.
Her opponent in the quarter-finals is a familiar one in Spanish friend Carla Suarez Navarro, who advanced to the last eight with a gripping victory over Estonian Anett Kontaveit.
"We've had a a lot of tough encounters on hard courts," said Wozniacki, who has won four of their six previous encounters.
"I'm expecting a tough fight.
"Obviously she had a tough season last year, she had a few injuries.
"She's back playing really well and I'm expecting a great fight."
Wozniacki ended 2017 on a big high by winning the WTA Tour finals for the first time and has carried that momentum into the new year.
"I've just been doing everything I had to do in the off-season," she said.
"I've worked hard, given everything I could, prepared as well as I could every day.
"When you put in the work, then you just hope that's enough."
Suarez Navarro knows exactly what Wozniacki will bring to the table too.
"I know how she will play and I know how tough she is," said the world No.39.
"It wil be a really tough match.
"She's fighting for every ball, but at the same time she can play aggressively.
"She has a lot of experience in these rounds."
The winner will play either Ukrainian fourth seed Elina Svitolina or Belgian Elise Mertens in Thursday's semi-finals.
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