World No.1 Ashleigh Barty may need to screen her practice partners in the future.

American qualifier Jennifer Brady has revealed a hit-out with Barty days before the Brisbane International provided a confidence boost which helped her to an upset second-round win over the Australian at Pat Rafter Arena on Thursday.

“That always helps, practising with the top players, which I never really did before,” the world No.53 said.

“It gives you a bit of confidence knowing that you can play at that level, you belong at that level.”

Brady, who had toppled five-time grand slam winner Maria Sharapova on Tuesday, shocked Barty with a combination of accurate serving and powerful baseline hitting.

The 6-4 7-6 (7-4) win was the 24-year-old’s first success against a top 10 player and she added one-eyed Queensland enthusiasm for Barty’s appearance had given her extra motivation to topple the 23-year-old.

“I knew the entire crowd pretty much was going to be for Ash,” Brady said.

“Even just the past few days the drivers have been, ‘Oh, when’s Ash playing?’

“But I think that was a great atmosphere. I wouldn’t change that for the world.”

Brady will aim to continue her giant-killing run in the quarter-finals when she takes on two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova for a place in the last four.

“I feel like a different person, a better person, fresh, mentally, physically, yeah, I feel good.”