Reflecting on past shortfalls, world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz partly blames the luck of the draw for his inability to claim an elusive Australian Open crown in four previous attempts.
But the 22-year-old won't use it as an excuse for having never been past the quarter-final stage at Melbourne's season-opening major.
Instead, the reigning French and US Open champion's focus is solely on securing the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup at the fifth time of asking.
If he does, he will make history as the youngest man to complete a career grand slam -.the feat of winning all four majors - in the open era.
Home country hero and world No.6 Alex de Minaur is also chasing Open glory for the first time, and is on course for a blockbuster quarter-final with Alcaraz.
But the Spaniard must first negotiate a second-round clash with Germany's Yannick Hanfmann on Wednesday, followed by possible encounters with seeded pair Corentin Moutet (32) and Tommy Paul (19).
Alcaraz's previous quarter-final defeats came at the hands of Alexander Zverev (2024) and 10-time champion Novak Djokovic (2025).
"I would say tricky not have gone farther than quarter-finals here because I feel like I'm playing a good tennis here in Australia," Alcaraz said.
"The last two years I've been playing a really good tennis, but in quarter-final I just lost against Zverev and lost against Djokovic.
"It's, I think, unusual players you play against in a quarter-final if you are (number) one or two in the world.
"But it isn't an excuse. I just really want to perform better than I did in previous years.
"So I'm just feeling this year probably it is one of those years that I will be able to, or I will have the chance to go further."
Alcaraz won his first-round encounter with local Adam Walton in straight sets on Sunday, but felt there was still plenty of room for improvement as the tournament progressed.
It starts in his clash with world No.102 Hanfmann on Rod Laver Arena.
"I hit the ball well (in the first round). Could be better, for sure," Alcaraz said.
"I'm just happy because I think the things that I had to do, I did it pretty well, in terms of myself, behave well, just good mindset all the time.
"Every time trying to think in positive thoughts all the time."
He added: "Then in terms of level, tactics or everything, I know that I have a lot of things to be better in the next round if I want to go further."
De Minaur also features on Wednesday, when he is expected to beat 90th ranked Hamad Medjedovic.
Three-time beaten finalist Daniil Medvedev, the 11th seed, takes on Quentin Halys, while third seed Zverev is up against Alexandre Muller.
