French Open champion Li Na believes she is back to her best and aiming for successive finals appearances at Melbourne Park.
Li, 29, was close to becoming the first-ever Chinese-born player to win a Grand Slam singles title when she reached the final of the Australian Open last year, only to lose to Kim Clijsters.
But Li went one better in the next major of 2011, dethroning holder Francesca Schiavone to lift the French Open crown at Roland Garros.
A sharp form slump followed in the second half of the year, as she bowed out of Wimbledon and the US Open in the second and first round respectively.
But after an off-season spent rediscovering her drive, Li is back in Australia, and aiming to reach consecutive finals at Rod Laver Arena.
"I wish I could do the same or even better," the world number six said when asked about her goals for 2012.
"Not just beginning of year. I was happy what I'm doing right now. Yeah, I was feeling I was more stronger, more tough."
"Not like last half year, just lose all the matches, doesn't matter who is opponent."
Li went down to a resurgent Sabine Lisicki at the All England Club in June last year, before suffering an upset defeat to Simona Halep at Flushing Meadows.
The US Open exit prompted Li to part with coach Michael Mortensen.
Li acknowledges the weight of expectation affected her following the French Open triumph, and she credits a period of relaxation in the off-season with helping to revive her desire.
"You know, the tennis is (a) tough sport," she said.
"We (are) travelling all over the world. Also, I think we have the longest season ever. Every year 10, 11 month for tournament."
"I don't know for (the) other players, but I need all the time to recover off the tennis court. I was taking like one week off, no fitness, no tennis. I just really need (to) relax. After that, I was feeling much, much better."
"Right now I didn't feel any pressure. But before, yeah, like end of the last year I was feel(ing) pressure. Not from my team, but from outside. Also last half year I didn't do well (on) the tennis court."
"Of course, I was feeling a little bit pressure. But now I have experience already."
"This half year, I learned a lot. I know what I should doing on the tennis court."
Li, seeded fifth, begins her Australian Open campaign against Kazakh Ksenia Pervak.