Maria Sharapova is hoping to use the lessons learned from her Wimbledon final defeat by Petra Kvitova last year to turn the tables on the Czech No.2 seed when they meet in an Australian Open semi-final on Thursday.
Kvitova and Sharapova each had straight sets quarter finals successes on Wednesday to set up a re-match of their battle at the All England Club last year which ended 6-3 6-4 in the Czech's favour.
Sharapova gained plenty of respect for Kvitova from that encounter and knows she is in for a real fight if she is to make her first Australian Open final in four years.
"It will certainly be tough. I've lost to her the last couple of times - obviously the big one in Wimbledon where she played really well," she said.
"I think she's the one to beat right now, playing the best tennis in her career. Coming off of so many wins last year, I'm looking forward to the matchup. I don't like losing so many times in a row. So I'll certainly be going out there and trying to play my best."
Kvitova's strong and consistent serve is her major weapon and Sharapova is well aware that that if she is unable to counter that she may find herself unable to get into the match
"She played quite deep and hard, served extremely well. The chances that I had, she just came up with better shots in that match. She was certainly the better player.
Despite admitting that her confidence took a major boost from the win over Sharapova in that match, Kvitova thinks the circumstances of their impending semi-final match-up are quite different.
"I think it was a really good match from both sides," she said reflecting on the final.
"How I can compare? I can't because it was grass and here is the hard court. I mean, it will be similar match as the Wimbledon, but still it can be different. But tactics will be the same as the Wimbledon."
Sharapova also pointed to the difference in court surfaces will make for a different nature of match, but despite a limited preparation, feels she is physically ready for anything Kvitova might throw at her.
"We're playing on a different court. Obviously, the grass is different. The ball stays a lot lower. Here the conditions are a lot slower than a grass court," she said.
"It is very difficult to compare. The points are a lot quicker on a grass court than they would be. I'm sure even if you're playing the same opponent, they're going to be a bit longer here than on grass."
"It's tough to compare physically how you feel. But movement-wise I feel really good."
Talk of possibly becoming world No.1 if she wins her next match does not interest Sharapova, while Kvitova said she will only worry about that when it happens.
As it stands, if she wins the tournament she becomes No.1 regardless, while if Kim Clijsters wins the title, Kvitova will also ascend to the top of the rankings.
For Victoria Azarenka to finish top, she must win the final, while the same applies for Sharapova.
Sharapova also said rankings were only of secondary interest to her.
"I think I've been fortunate enough to be in that position before. I think the girls that are trying to get that position haven't been in that position before"