Canberra export Alison Bai hopes her fifth appearance at the Australian Open will produce her maiden grand slam win on Wednesday.
Bai made her first trip to Melbourne Park a decade ago and but is yet to taste victory and will pair with Zoe Hives for the opening round of the doubles.
The 27-year-old is playing at her third Australian Open in a row but said she'll never get used to the likes of sharing a locker room with Venus Williams or eating at the table next to Roger Federer.
"You see Roger walking around and he just looks really relaxed and chilled out, like he always is, I saw him yesterday just sitting in the cafe and watching the matches," Bai said.
"I've also saw Dominic Thiem and the Zverev brothers and Stan [Wawrinka], it seems like a very relaxed environment, but I also saw Venus come into the locker rooms after her match and she didn't look very happy."
Bai enters the first grand slam of the year in red-hot form after reaching the Hobart International semi-finals alongside Lizette Cabrera last week.
"It was last minute thing down there, I was supposed to be playing with Zoe but she did well at Playford and I ended up going down anyway and Lizzie was looking for a partner," Bai said.
"We got a wildcard and got to the semis and played well but couldn't quite get the win. I'm feeling good and confident and the sun is shining so we can't go too wrong really.
"Zoe and I played in Playford and lost but it was our first tournament together since we won the Bendigo title in November."
Bai lives and trains in Melbourne and said the world No. 208 doubles player was feeling positive about breaking through for her first win at a grand slam.
"I feel a lot more comfortable and used to the area because I spend a lot of time at Melbourne Park training and being in the gym, you forget it's a grand slam until you go outside and see all the spectators," Bai said.
"It's always been dream of mine to be playing at grand slams and being amongst the best players in the world, as a kid I always wanted to play in the Australian Open and it's such a privilege to be here.
"Only the top 100 or 200 players get to play so I'm very lucky to have a home slam and that we get wildcards, to win one or two matches would be amazing.
"It would be a great start to the year and give me a bit more clarity to scheduling for the rest of the year, we did so well in Hobart and if we do well again here my schedule could completely change.
"Obviously the goal is to play WTA and the big events and tournaments and once you get your ranking into the top 100 you get to play big events and that's where the points are."
