During her Australian Open campaign, Ash Barty has spoken about how she relishes being faced by challenges.
So far this tournament, the world number one has met very few, illustrated by the fact she has not lost a set and only dropped serve once in her opening four matches.
But having reached the second week at Melbourne Park, Barty knows her bid to win her first Australian Open is about to encounter stiffer opposition.
And with 21st seed Jessica Pegula her quarterfinal opponent on Rod Laver Arena, Barty is prepared for a tough night at the office.
"She's (Pegula) able to hold baseline really well," Barty said in the build-up to tonight's match.
"Her swings are quite linear and she gets a racquet behind the ball and swings through the path. The ball comes at you at a different trajectory, and her ability to absorb pace and then add to it when she wants to is exceptional.
"It's going to be a challenge for me to try and push her off that baseline and make her uncomfortable and feel like she has to create [opportunities].
"But I know that she's also going to be doing the exact same thing to me and trying to make me uncomfortable. That's the chess game that we play.
The two have only met on court once before, with Barty triumphing in straight sets in the first round of her successful 2019 French Open tilt.
Like Barty, Pegula has only lost one set on her march into the last eight, while she has the experience of reaching the same stage of the tournament last year under her belt.
Barty said she would do her homework on the American.
"Each and every player is different," Barty said.
"Each and every player, there are some similarities, but certainly tactics and the way that I want to play is unique to each and every player.
"I try and adapt my game as best as I can to try and make my opponent uncomfortable, and that will be no different when Jess and I play.
"My job is to try and make her uncomfortable, and hopefully I can execute that, have some fun with it, and make life difficult for her."
Pegula praises Barty's tactical nous
Pegula said she expected a battle of tactics with the Wimbledon champion.
"I feel like Ash is so tactical in everything she does," she said.'
As wary as she is of Pegula, Barty said she was satisfied with where her game sat at this stage of the tournament.
"I am right where I am," Barty said on Sunday night.
"All I have to do is try and bring my best on that given day to try and upset my opponent and do what I can to try and win that tennis match."
The winner of tonight's match will face either fourth seed Barbora Krejčíková or Madison Keys in the semifinals.
