A year after Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka were both caught up in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, both will be trying to make history in the US Open final on Saturday.
For Williams, the joy of giving birth for the first time last September was quickly followed by a series of complications that led to multiple life-saving surgeries.
At the same time, precocious Japanese talent Osaka, who grew up idolising Williams, was left wondering if she would ever make it through to the second week of a major after another early exit at Flushing Meadows.
Twelve months on and the duo will contest a final where the prize on offer will not only be the $US3.8 million winner’s cheque.
For Williams, victory would allow her to tie Australian Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 grand slam titles.
But standing in her way will be a determined Osaka, eager to become the first Japanese player to win a singles major.
The pair have played against each other once before, at Miami in March, and it was the Japanese upstart who toppled her idol in straight sets.
“Even when I was a little kid, I always dreamed that I would play Serena in a final of a grand slam. Just the fact that it’s happening, I’m very happy about it,” Osaka said after her semi-final win over 2017 runner-up Madison Keys.
“I really feel like I don’t want to overthink this match, so I’m not going to think that she’s so much better than she was in Miami.
“I’m just going to go out there and play. Since I already know she’s a good player, I don’t want to be surprised if she plays better or not.”
Williams will represent the stiffest test yet for Osaka after also cruising mostly unchallenged into the final.
Williams, whose first crack at joining Court atop the list of most grand slam titles ended in defeat at this year’s Wimbledon final, knows she has come a long way since the Miami defeat.
“Well, it was good that I played her because I kind of know how she plays now,” said six-time US Open champion Williams, who will be bidding to join Court, Evonne Goolagong and Kim Clijsters as the only mothers to have won grand slam titles in the professional era.
“I mean, I was breast-feeding at the time, so it was a totally different situation … hopefully I won’t play like that again. I can only go up from that match.”