Stefanos Tsitsipas has added motivation as the third-seeded Greek crowd favourite and women's world No.1 Iga Swiatek headline the third-round action on day five of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.
Tsitsipas is the highest-ranked player left in the men's draw following the shock exits of top-seeded title holder Rafael Nadal and world No.3 Casper Ruud in the space of 24 hours.
The 24-year-old - a three-time Open semi-finalist and 2021 French Open runner-up to Novak Djokovic - takes on Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor for the first time and has the advantage of playing on one of his favourite courts.
"It's always a pleasure playing on Rod Laver Arena," Tsitsipas said after his second-round win on Wednesday night.
"I get some good memories here."
Tsitsipas is so popular in Melbourne, which boasts a large Greek community, that he famously had a souvlaki named in his honour at one city restaurant looking to cash in on his annual trips to the city.
Now the world No.4 is equally eager to feed off the fan support in his ongoing drive for grand slam glory.
"Whenever I'm back here, it feels like home," Tsitsipas said.
"Maybe in the future, I'm seriously thinking of maybe getting a home here one day."
Tsitsipas is but one of a host of players seeking to make the most of the premature departures of Nadal and Ruud.
Runner-up the past two years to Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev is perhaps best placed to cash in.
On Friday, exciting American Sebastian Korda stands in between the Russian seventh seed and a spot in the last 16 once again.
With similarly high hopes, precocious sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime takes on Argentine Francisco Cerundolo while his Canadian countryman Denis Shapovalov plays 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz.
American Francis Tiafoe and Russian Karen Khachanov, both seeded US Open semi-final losers last year, also square off, no doubt with big intentions.
Women's favourite Swiatek is expected to make light work of Spanish qualifier Cristina Bucsa, while highly-fancied American contenders Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff are favoured to advance past Marta Kostyuk and Bernarda Pera respectively.
But 10th seed Madison Keys may find life tougher against two-time Open champion Victoria Azarenka as she aims to go one better than last year's semi-final loss to retired reigning champion Ash Barty.
There's no Australians in singles action on Friday but reigning Wimbledon champion Max Purcell, with new partner Jordan Thompson, is among a host of locals playing doubles.
Purcell and Matt Ebden lost last year's Open men's doubles final to Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis before claiming the crown at the All England Club.
