Andre Agassi has a special reason to be on the Ashleigh Barty bandwagon as Australia's new darling of tennis eyes a spot in the second week of her home grand slam for the first time.
Agassi on Thursday recalled the time eight years ago when he and wife Steffi Graf - tennis's most famous and successful couple - hosted Barty for a week in Las Vegas hoping to offer the wide-eyed youngster some important life lessons.
Barty was only 13 at the time but already earmarked for greatness having announced her arrival on the junior scene with a series of spectacular wins over international rivals many years her senior.
"I remember and I'm always rooting for her, that's for sure," Agassi told AAP at Melbourne Park during a Lavazza promo.
"I unfortunately didn't get a chance to be on the court with her for any period of time.
"Most of the conversations just had to do with what the crazy life of tennis throws at you."
In Vegas, Barty also received specialist tuition from Agassi's former coach and fellow Australian Darren Cahill and attended a baseball game with Graf.
But the highlight of her stay was bonding with Agassi's legendary conditioner Gil Reyes.
Reyes introduced Barty to his famous "Gil water" - a special concoction to enhance recovery and performance that Agassi swore by during an illustrious career that included four Australian Open triumphs.
Barty ended their session with a trip to the famed heartbreak hill, where the American superstar spent countless painful hours preparing himself for grand slam success.
"Gil has amazing stories that he tells to us with a huge amount of passion and pride," Barty said at the time.
"Stories from the days when he was coaching Arnold Schwarzenegger to help him become Mr Universe to the present days working with Fernando Verdasco and (defending Australian Open champion) Caroline Wozniacki.
"In his gym, he constantly says that this is `my time' and it should be all about me.
"He is an amazing person to be around and gives me a lot of confidence in the gym."
Barty's experience with Agassi and co instilled the deep self-belief that has carried the 22-year-old through to the last 32 in Melbourne without dropping a set.
Australia's 15th seed will resume her campaign on Friday against Greek star Maria Sakkari, with either Wozniacki or fellow former Open champion Maria Sharapova awaiting the winner in the fourth round.
Australian Associated Press
