Jaimee Fourlis is drawing inspiration from fearless ground breaker Emma Raducanu as the Australian wildcard dreams big in the Big Apple.
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Fourlis will make her US Open main-draw debut on Tuesday believing "anything can happen" these days in the wildly unpredictable world of women's professional tennis.
Raducanu is living proof after the British teenager last year became the first player in history to win a grand slam from qualifying - without even dropping a set.
Enjoying her own breakout season, which started with a run to the Australian Open mixed doubles final and featured a maiden Wimbledon appearance, Fourlis says Raducanu has given every player on tour hope.
"What Emma did last year, that can be anyone," the 22-year-old told AAP.
"That can honestly be anyone.
"So if you're winning a couple of matches, in qualies or in main draw, once you start you can't stop if you get on a roll.
"She showed that last year and there's no harm in that being me as well. That would be pretty cool."
Fourlis feels like she's playing with the house's money after being awarded Tennis Australia's wildcard under the governing body's reciprocal arrangement with the USTA.
"It's great. It's such a buzz to be here in New York," she said.
"It's actually my second main-draw grand slam for the year so pretty lucky to be given a wildcard as well.
"It's been an incredible year so far so hopefully for the last grand slam of the year I can make it even better."
Twice previously a final-round qualifying loser at Flushing Meadows, Fourlis says Elena Rybakina's unexpected Wimbledon triumph last month is another cause for optimism for every player in the women's locker room.
"Because everyone is at the same level," said the world No.152.
"All the girls are working really hard as well and the level is just improving and getting higher.
"And all the girls are stepping up. Everyone is getting so much better and matching each other and that just shows in who wins the grand slams. It can be anyone.
"It just depends when you make that breakthrough. It can take just one, two matches.
"You look at Dasha (Daria Saville). She's made the final of a WTA 250 (tournament in Quebec) and she's back in the top 50.
"Once you're there, if you stay solid during the year, anything can happen."
Fourlis plays world No.142 Yue Yuan in the first round, sensing an opportunity but suitably wary of the Chinese player who hammered another Australian Maddison Inglis 6-1 6-0 in the qualifiers.
"It's very dangerous to get a qualifier," she said.
"They've played three really good matches. Everyone in a grand slam is good and that's the reason why they're here.
"So I have to play my best when I play on Tuesday and nothing less."
Australian Associated Press
