Sam Stosur has declared herself ready to be elevated to Australian tennis royalty by emulating Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Margaret Court in capturing the French Open crown tomorrow.
The Queenslander is poised to break a 30-year drought by becoming the nation's first woman to win a grand slam singles title since Goolagong Cawley at Wimbledon in 1980.
The 26-year-old wasn't even born when Goolagong Cawley lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish in London for a second time let alone when Court conquered Paris for the last time by an Australian in 1973.
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The Gold Coaster said just being mentioned in the same breath as Roland Garros champions Goolagong Cawley and Court was an honour before her final against court-kissing Italian veteran Francesca Schiavone.
"It is very special, I have never watched them play but I have seen little clips of footage here and there," world No.7 Stosur told AAP.
"Evonne was a Fed Cup captain when I was involved in the team when I was very young, she has been a great role model and our last great player pretty much.
"Evonne and Margaret, they are pretty big shoes to fill but if I can be that last player to have won a grand slam that would be unbelievable."
The planets have aligned for Stosur this week and she will never have a better chance of claiming a maiden grand slam.
She is in the form of her life, having beaten three past and present world No.1s in a row on the way to the final.
She has booted out four-time champion Justine Henin, 12-time major winner Serena Williams and then Jelena Jankovic 6-1 6-2 in Thursday's semi-final.
"I've beaten all those, so why can't I win one more?" she said.
Seventeenth seed Schiavone has had an armchair ride to the title decider in comparison.
In the last three rounds, she has defeated 30th seed Maria Kirilenko, a sore and underdone world No.3 Caroline Wozniacki before fifth seed Elena Dementieva's semi-final retirement on Thursday because of a calf injury.
Stosur has a most promising record against Schiavone, having defeated her in straight sets in their past four encounters including twice on clay.
And the 29-year-old Italian, who has celebrated her past two wins by kissing the red dirt of centre court, has never been beyond the quarter-finals of a grand slam.
Stosur believed that could only help her in debut grand slam final.
"I could think no matter what I am feeling she's probably thinking it too," Stosur said.
"It is a different situation for both of us, who knows how we are going to feel?
"I am sure there are going to be some nerves out there and I'm ready for that."
If Stosur thought she was a late bloomer in the sport, the sight of Schiavone should be heartening for her.
She is three years her senior and the first Italian to reach a grand slam singles final in the open era,
"I think everybody are different," she said.
"Could be late for you, could be good for you. I think it's my time now.
"Maybe before I wasn't ready."
For the past three decades, women's tennis in Australia has not been held in the highest esteem.
But Stosur plans to change that.
