Ash Barty's inspired run to the Australian Open quarter-finals brought the best out of her, and her victorious opponent Petra Kvitova.
With the weight of a nation on her shoulders, 22-year-old Barty carried Australian hopes to heights in the women's singles draw not seen for a decade.
However, her dazzling run in Melbourne - which included a three-set win over 2008 champion Maria Sharapova - came to an abrupt halt as Kvitova sealed a straight sets victory on Tuesday night.
The Czech left-hander sent an ominous warning to the rest of the women's draw, with the two-time Wimbledon champion yet to drop a set in Melbourne.
MORE: Barty goes down to Kvitova in quarters | Kvitova's emotional comeback to Grand Slam semi-finals
While the 6-1 6-4 result wasn't the way the home fans wanted Barty's run to end, seeing an Australian in the last eight - for the first time since Jelena Dokic in 2009 - was a welcome result after some lean years in Melbourne for local players.
Kvitova felt guilty to break Australian hearts - first apologising to the Rod Laver Arena crowd - but only had good words for the Queenslander.
Thanks for your kind words everyone, especially @ashbar96 🙏
— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) January 22, 2019
I could not be more happy to be back in a Grand Slam semifinal! Pojd!#ausopen pic.twitter.com/mS24NM6qis
"Ash is great. She's a great person, and a great player, as she showed," Kvitova told reporters after the match.
"It's not easy to play quarter-finals of a slam at home. I know the pressure when I play at home as well.
"She played unbelievable tennis today. Her slice was like two centimetres over the net.
"It's incredible what she went through all tournament.
"I'm sorry for her that I beat her, but that's tennis, unfortunately."
It was the fourth time the pair have met, Kvitova winning each time. However, there were high hopes for a close match on Tuesday following their tight three-set final at the Sydney International a fortnight ago.
Kvitova was able to get a good look at Barty that night - the Aussie dominated the first set 6-1 as a flatfooted Kvitova struggled with Sydney's humidity, but the Czech battled cramp to close out her 26th career WTA title.
In their highly-anticipated night-time quarter-final on centre court on Tuesday, Kvitova needed just 68 minutes to advance to the final four.
The first set was a procession, Kvitova hitting 12 winners to two, and 25 to eight in the match.
The Australian fought back, bringing the second set level at 4-4, but she fluffed three straight errors off her forehand to hand Kvitova the decisive break.
Still, that didn't stop Barty giving her friend a smile as they exchanged pleasantries at the net after the match.
After the match, Barty was full of praise for Kvitova, who is now into her first Grand Slam final in nearly five years, and for the first time since she was the victim of a knife attack at her home in December 2016.
While disappointed to let the chance slip to become the first Aussie women's semi-finalist in Melbourne since Wendy Turnbull in 1984, Barty was proud Kvitova has been able to bounce back from the horrific 2016 attack that required surgery.
"She's an amazing human being," Barty said.
"I think she's beginning to play her best tennis again.
"I was fortunate enough to play her in one of her first tournaments back in Birmingham a couple years ago.
"We all know what Petra can do. She's a Grand Slam champion. She's proved she can beat the best, be very close to the best.
"I think she's been number two in the world before. She's certainly got the game and the attitude to be able to take it to anyone.
"But most importantly, I think from all of the girls in the locker room, it's amazing just to see her back out here. It wasn't the same when she wasn't here."
