Even Paula Badosa loves Coco Gauff but that won't deter the Spaniard from pulling out all stops in a bid to oust the fan favourite from the Australian Open.
Contesting a second straight grand slam quarter-final after more than a year battling a depressing back injury that sent her ranking spiralling, Badosa is intent on seizing the moment at Melbourne Park on Tuesday.
The one-time world No.2 and former French Open junior champion knows opportunities like this don't come around often and that prodigious talent guarantees nothing in professional sport.
"(Winning) would mean a lot. My dream is always to be in the final rounds of a slam. Being in these rounds are very special," Badosa said.
The 11th-seeded Badosa and third-ranked Gauff have split their previous six encounters so the American's unbeaten start to 2025, after finishing 2024 with victory at the season-ending championship, will count for nothing in their latest clash.
"I love Coco. I respect her a lot. She's a great competitor. We always have tough matches," Badosa said.
"Last one was really tough for me because I was winning in that moment, then the momentum changed in Beijing semi-finals. It was a good match.
"Rome was a little bit similar. I really remember those matches. I hope I can have my revenge here. It's a special match, quarter-finals, centre court, against her.
"I always enjoyed playing against her. I respect her so much. I will get ready for that battle again."
While Badosa is doing her best to treat the match like any other, the 26-year-old accepts Gauff is in hot form, riding a 13-match winning streak, and that she must be brave.
"She's full of confidence. But I'm playing well, too. I'm ready to face her," Badosa said.
"We both are aggressive players, going with the serves. It's going to be a tactical match.
"She's moving really well. I will have to play aggressive, play my game, try to focus a little bit more maybe on myself.
"It's going to be a battle. Sometimes when you play these kind of players, it's who has the best day that day. Hopefully it's me."
The winner will advance to a semi-final on Thursday against either top-seeded two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka or Russian veteran Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
3-COCO GAUFF (USA) v 11-PAULA BADOSA (ESP) 3-3
2024 Beijing, hard, SF, Gauff 4-6 6-4 6-2
2024 Rome, clay, R16, Gauff 5-7 6-4 6-1
2023 Madrid, clay, R32, Badosa 6-3 6-0
2022 San Jose, hard, QF, Badosa 7-6 (7-4) 6-2
2022 Doha, hard, R16, Gauff 6-2 6-3
2021 Indian Wells, hard, R32, Badosa 6-2 6-2
