“Before, I feel like I won a lot of matches just being able to get a lot of balls back. I realised that’s not the way to play if I want to have more success on tour because girls are hitting harder and harder every day, being more aggressive.

“I just feel like that was the difference, that I’m able to be aggressive, but also run around the court if I need to. Against Iga, no matter how big of a hitter you are, you’re going to have to run a little bit. Aryna said the same thing. She probably hits the biggest out of all of us. 

“I think you have to take your chances when you can.”

Gauff has been rewarded for this approach. At one stage she trailed Swiatek 1-11 in the head-to-head series, but has since beaten the Polish champion twice in straight sets. 

These wins have come in a purple patch since the US Open, a four-month span during which Gauff has triumphed at Beijing and the WTA Finals and won 18 of her last 20 matches – including her past five straight against top-10 rivals.

Pratt and many others might have Sabalenka as a narrow favourite in Melbourne, but Gauff will be quietly confident against the world No.1, too.

The two are on course for a second straight Australian Open semifinal meeting, and although Sabalenka won that, Gauff takes a winning 5-4 record into that match-up, and won their most recent meeting at the WTA Finals.

Of course, tennis players do not look at draws the way fans and pundits do. Instead, Gauff is focused only on her first-round encounter against AO 2020 champion Sofia Kenin – a popcorn match-up scheduled for Rod Laver Arena on Monday.

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It’s a rough draw for Kenin, who meets another superstar opponent 12 months after facing top seed Swiatek in the first round at Melbourne Park.

But it’s certainly not easy for Gauff, either.