Thanasi Kokkinakis is banking on his first decent night's sleep in weeks as the dust settles on his breakout title run and focus shifts to his home major.
As the euphoria eased less than 24 hours after he collected his maiden tour-level trophy, the 25-year-old – on a whirlwind Sunday of Australian Open preparations and media commitments – briefly had a chance to take stock of his remarkable run.
In an injury-afflicted career, his eight matches won in back-to-back events in Adelaide this past fortnight were already more than he secured in each season since 2015.
"I'm so happy. I don't know if it's really sunk in yet to be honest," Kokkinakis said.
"I thought the first week I had (in Adelaide) was good. I was tossing up whether to play the second week.
"Yeah, looks like I made the right decision. Couldn't be happier to do it in front of friends and family. Atmosphere was electric. Yeah, perfect start to the year for me."
It was in 2015 that an 18-year-old Kokkinakis basked in one of his greatest moments, when he brought down 11th seed Ernests Gulbis before an electric crowd on Court 3 at Melbourne Park.
Some three years later, he landed a monumental upset of world No.1 Roger Federer at Miami.
There was no doubt where his Adelaide triumph stood.
"They were obviously phenomenal moments for me," Kokkinakis said.
"But this one definitely takes the cake.
"I mean, I think I was down a set, maybe up 6-5 on serve in the second set, and the crowd just went nuts coming out of a change of end. I haven't heard noise like that forever. I know it's a pretty business end of the match, but I had to laugh, smile. It was unreal.
"The steps and grinding to get to that point, to play out of all places in Adelaide, to find my best tennis, have my best two tournaments maybe ever, yeah, it was unreal.
"The crowd just, like, rallied me back. I honestly couldn't have asked for anything more. They were great. I'm hoping for the same support here."
A runner-up to good mate Nick Kyrgios in the 2013 boys' singles final, Kokkinakis' talent has long promised so much.
The duo – winners of the boys' doubles at that Australian Open – will reprise the doubles partnership this fortnight.
Kyrgios was among the many who congratulated his countryman on his title on social media, a list which on Sunday had grown to include Australian Open champions Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic Kim Clijsters and Dylan Alcott, as well as Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan and Port Adelaide footballer Travis Boak.
"Maiden title at home big fella. Love the sound of that Thanaser. Amazing … Keep going," Federer wrote.
Alcott, who was preparing for his final Australian Open appearance, was also in awe of the achievement.
A litany of injuries, which included shoulder, knee, pectoral, groin, elbow, abdominal and a heavy bout of glandular fever, had plagued a career that was far more stop than start for much of the six years before he turned a corner in 2021.
He begins his sixth Australian Open campaign against qualifier Yannick Hanfmann as the world No.103, his highest mark in almost six years, and could meet 20-time major champion Rafael Nadal in the second round.
"Obviously, no, I'd love to get that opportunity," Kokkinakis said.
"I'm not looking ahead at all though. I've got a tough player who has won three quality matches in qualifying … I'll probably only hit just before my warm-up. I'm having a day off today."
Kokkinakis admitted he was taken aback at how many people had reached out in light of his back story, in what he had endured to triumph. Regardless of how he fared at Melbourne Park this fortnight, there was already much to build on.
"I felt some serious love from a lot of people. It actually means a lot," Kokkinakis said.
"I don't know if I've walked past one person that hasn't stopped me and congratulated me.
"It's an unbelievable feeling, to be honest, something I haven't experienced obviously in a long time, maybe ever ... Hopefully now it's a sign that I can keep going. Gives me obviously a lot more motivation as well.
"I don't want to stop here."