With a devastating achilles injury behind her, Storm Hunter is adamant she can recapture the swashbuckling form that made her the world's top-ranked doubles player.
The popular veteran was at the peak of her powers when her achilles tendon snapped during Billie Jean King Cup training in April 2024, ruling her out of that year's Olympics.
Hunter was the 2023 year-end doubles world No.1 before going on an incredible run from qualifying to the Australian Open third round to surge to a career-high singles ranking of No.114.
"I have a lot of confidence in myself," Hunter told AAP.
"I know my level and I feel like I'm working to get back to that level."
Hunter had just started playing with now world No.1 Katerina Siniakova before her injury and since returning in February has rekindled that partnership along with testing out others, while also working on her game.
"I'm a little bit older too, so it actually keeps me more motivated to keep improving because I'm like, 'oh, wow, there's so much more I can still learn and get better at'," the 31-year-old said.
"So that's been really fun too.
"Achieving No.1 in the world, I can't do anything more than that. So in a way, there's a lot of pressure on me because I've achieved something incredible.
"And now I'm just doing it for myself - just trying to enjoy being on tour, travelling with my husband, travelling with my team."
Hunter has slipped to world No.425 in singles.
But she has been awarded an Australian Open qualifying wildcard and now has a chance to battle through to the main draw and feature at Melbourne Park in that capacity.
"I've still got some protected rankings for singles as opposed to AO. So I definitely want to focus on my singles after the AO," she said.
"Whatever opportunities I get given will be amazing and I just can't wait to play in front of the crowds since I missed out on playing this year."
In doubles, Hunter will link up with 19-year-old breakout star Maya Joint, who is now ranked world No.32 in singles and No.54 in doubles.
"She's younger and just had an amazing year," she said.
"She's a great player, but just a really great person. Super energetic, excited.
"She wants to learn. She wants to get better on the doubles court too."
Hunter described Joint as "a great doubles player".
"She's almost top 50 in the world in doubles herself after being on tour like for one year - it took me like eight years to get to top 50 in doubles," she said.
"It's going to be really fun. Playing with an Aussie doesn't get any better.
"So hopefully the crowds come out and support us. We're going to have a lot of fun."
