Training in Brisbane could be part of the secret to tennis world number one Ash Barty's success at the Australian Open.
Barty is vying for her third major singles championship in tonight's final against 27th-seeded American, Danielle Collins.
Brisbane's Pat Rafter Arena was resurfaced to match the hardcourt of Melbourne Park's Rod Laver Arena last year to bolster Barty's training, Tennis Queensland general manager Elia Hill told ABC Radio Brisbane.
Ms Hill said the changes to the court at the Queensland Tennis Centre were also for the benefit of other players in Brisbane and to make sure there was a like-for-like practice environment.
"We are the home of where our players set the summer up," she said.
"Melbourne is a great place to be, but Brisbane definitely gets them ready to do that and we made sure the court was ready for her play and hopefully those results will come through over the weekend."
Barty is the first Australian to make the Australian Open women's singles final since Wendy Turnbull in 1980.
If she wins, she will be the first Australian to do so since Chris O'Neil in 1978.
Ms Hill said the words "proud and excited" did not begin to explain how Australians were feeling about Barty's big chance.
"We all just can't wait to see her in action, but 'proud' is probably the best word," she said.
Special from the start
Ms Hill said she first witnessed Barty's talent in 2009 when the emerging player joined the elite squad.
"Back then she was just an amazing talent," she said.
"It was the way she had a different game — Ash definitely played a little bit differently to a lot of the other girls.
"As you'll see, when she plays now she really has some variation in her game, so it's not that driving groundstroke all the time — she breaks it up … whether it might be a slice or a slower or a faster ball."
Ms Hill said seeing Barty's technique threw her opponents off because "sometimes they're not used to that variation that she definitely throws in there".
"From a young age she really showed that as well," she said.
