It's no secret Ash Barty fell out of love with tennis, gave it away for cricket, before again picking up the racquet.
However, as she sealed a little of bit of her own history on Thursday, the second stanza of Barty's career came full circle.
On June 6, 2016, Barty reappeared in the WTA rankings, albeit down at No. 623.
On the same day three years later following her French Open quarter-final win over Madison Keys, Barty guaranteed her top-five singles debut, regardless of how the tournament pans out.
MORE: Barty gets 'incredible' reward for new clay-court approach
No Australian has been higher in the rankings since compatriot Sam Stosur peaked at No. 4 in February 2011. Little over six months later, Stosur won her maiden Grand Slam singles crown at Flushing Meadows.
Barty has a chance to follow a similar trajectory, having gradually risen up the rankings in 2019. Coming into Roland-Garros, the 23-year-old was the eighth seed.
Chasing Stosur's 2011 path is merely a small chapter in Barty's young career. Now the highest-ranked player in the women's draw in Paris, the title is arguably Barty's to lose.
— Ash Barty (@ashbar96) June 6, 2019
The tournament itself will crown a first-time Slam singles winner - Barty will take on 17-year-old Halep-conqueror Amanda Anisimova, while Brit Johanna Konta and Czech 19-year-old Markéta Vondroušová will do battle in the other semi.
No Australian has tasted success at Roland-Garros since Margaret Court in 1973. Stosur reached the final in 2010, but Italian veteran Francesca Schiavone claimed her one and only Slam singles title in straight sets.
When Barty takes on Anisimova later on Friday (7pm AEST), a win for the Australian would guarantee a move into third in the rankings.
Should she take out the title and lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen on Saturday, she will rise to No. 2.
Final four 🙈🇫🇷🎾 @rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/gbU69l9Vhp
— Ash Barty (@ashbar96) June 6, 2019
However, Barty downplayed the hype and calmly set herself and her fellow semi-finalists up for something special.
"It's a new situation for me," she said after the Keys match.
"I don't think you know quite what to expect tomorrow, but I will prepare and do the best that I can to keep it normal.
"Obviously it's a little bit of a different buzz and a little bit of a different electricity.
"But, ultimately, I'll try and prepare and do everything exactly the same and try and play my best tennis."
