Li Na exited last year's Australian Open in tears after blowing four match points but the Chinese world No 6 is back to winning ways and eyeing a great chance to double her grand slam haul.
"I really want to be top three or win another grand slam. Of course this is the goal, so the whole team is working so hard to try to achieve the goal," Li said in Sydney.
It's a far cry from 12 months ago in Melbourne, when the then reigning French Open champion hit a roadblock in the form of a determined Kim Clijsters in the fourth round and let victory slip from her grasp four times.
Her post-match interview with Chinese media lasted just seconds before she fled in tears. But Clijsters, also her conqueror in the 2011 final in Melbourne, has now retired and a series of injuries could ease Li's progression.
World No 1 and defending champion Victoria Azarenka is battling a toe infection picked up during a pedicure, and Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Brisbane tune-up with a collarbone problem.