Surprise quarter finalist Ekaterina Makarova has attributed her career-best showing at the 2012 Australian Open to a good rest after a disappointing finish to 2011.
Makarova caused one of the boilovers of the tournament when she knocked out five-time champion Serena Williams on Monday, reaching the final eight of a Grand Slam for the first time.
The 23-year-old Russian looked on the rise last June when she reached a career-high ranking of 29, but off the back of six consecutive first round losses, she ended 2011 in a huge slump.
She took some time away from the court to refresh and reload and after a strong off-court preparation now finds herself facing Maria Sharapova in a quarter-final.
"That was last year. That was the end. This is the new year, new feeling, new game. It's like different," she said when asked about her dramatic form slump at the end of 2011.
"I had a good holidays. Didn't think about tennis. And then the good preparation. Practiced so hard with my coach and physical coach. So, yeah, I think that the results show that I worked hard."
She was just glad to have surpassed her effort at this tournament 12 months ago, where she made the fourth round, which means she is set to boost her lowly ranking of 56.
"I wish that it was a mistake. In the middle of last year, I was 29. But then I didn't play that good the second part of the year. In the end of the year, I lost six tournaments first round. So, yeah, maybe my ranking a little bit lose," she said.
"But, I don't know, I just happy that I was in the fourth round last year here, so it was tough. I get more points. I wish I will get more up in the ranking."
Makarova, who came into the match having lost to Williams in Beijing in 2009, could barely believe she had knocked off one of the greatest players in women's tennis history in straight sets.
"I'm surprised because she's a great player and it's really tough to play against her. But, I don't know, I just feel so good and so focused. So I played my game, and that's it. I won against Serena. That's amazing," she said.