The Australian Open title is Ash Barty's to lose as tennis legends declare the world No.1's imperious game has "no holes" entering Saturday night's final against Danielle Collins.
Untouchable on serve and majestic off the ground, Barty has conceded the fewest games en route to a grand slam final since the great Serena Williams at the 2013 US Open.
Little wonder Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport are lauding Barty's dominance as Williams-like as the 25-year-old strives to become the first home star to win an Australian Open singles crown since Chris O'Neil in 1978.
"Her service numbers are Serena-esque," Davenport told the Tennis Channel.
Madison Keys complained after her demoralising semi-final loss to Barty that she had no answer to the top seed's variety and adaptability, prompting Davenport's claim.
"There are no holes in her game," said Davenport, the 2000 Open champion and former world No.1.
"She's under an immense amount of pressure, playing in Australia and this was the next big one for her to win. She's handling it like a champ.
"If you look at her tennis, she has been playing to her patterns this whole tournament - her serve plus forehand, winning over 80 per cent of her first-serve points.
"Nobody can really solve that riddle and when a player that good is able to play with such ease, look out. She's looked sensational."
Navratilova pointed out that Barty had used her slice on 84 per cent of her backhands this campaign, compared to 46 per cent last year, but that it was too late for her rivals to start learning to combat the Australian's deadliest weapon.
"You have to practise that all year long. You can't just be a serve and volleyer when it's time to be a serve and volleyer," Navratilova said.
"You have to do it throughout the year, get used to the slice and they're not."
Barty says it's "unreal, so incredible" to be the first Australian woman to make the final since Wendy Turnbull in 1980.
"To be in the finals weekend of your home grand slam is what a lot of Aussie players dream of," she said.
All business, though, Barty didn't plan from straying from the strict routine that has already served the dual grand slam champion so well.
"Same old. I'm a creature of habit. Not a lot will change for us," Barty said.
"The preparation stays the same, process is the same.
"I'm able to switch off when I'm not here on-site and that makes the time when we are on-site more enjoyable, more special, and then we switch on and get ready to go."
As rampant as she's been this summer, winning her past 20 sets and 81 of her last 82 service games, the Wimbledon champion will need to be ready to go against Collins, an Open semi-finalist three years ago.
The American also has the distinction of being the last player to have toppled Barty in Australia, having done so at the 2021 Adelaide International.
"Danielle has done incredibly well here in Australia before," Barty said.
"She's an exceptional ball striker. She's someone who stands on the baseline and can hit all spots of the court from any position.
"The challenge is going to be trying to get her off-balance. We'll do our homework, try and figure out a plan and come Saturday try and execute."
O'Neil, who beat American Betsy Nagelsen as an unseeded underdog in the final 44 years ago, fully expects the great home hope to execute after accepting an invitation from Tennis Australia to be courtside with Rod Laver for Barty's date with destiny.
Still coaching in Port Macquarie, the 66-year-old O'Neil is happy to be replaced in the record books after almost half a century of carrying the mantle as Australia's last Open singles champion.
"It's pretty cool. I'm a good trivia question," she said.
"But I just wish it could happen."
