It’s a unique additional facet to the intensity and demands of Grand Slam tennis playing as a home player.
Posters blazoned with their face pop up across the city, the interviews are endless and the crowds flock to see their every move.
All four major nations have basked in having elite players in the past couple of generations, but actually lifting the trophy on home soil is particularly difficult.
Just take a look at Andy Murray, who ended 77 years at Wimbledon 2013 to become men’s singles champion. While the French wait, male or female, goes back to Mary Pierce’s Parisian triumph in 2000.
The extra hype, extra buzz, the perpetual questioning, increased expectations, certainly tests the mental fortitude of home charges.
This could explain why only five male and five female Australians have managed to advance to the singles quarterfinals since the ‘Happy Slam’ moved to Melbourne Park from down the road in Kooyong in 1988.
World No.1 and reigning Roland Garros champion Ash Barty overhauled Alison Riske on Sunday to become the first Australian to reach more than one last-eight spot in this period.
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With the top seed in pursuit of a second major, can Barty cope with the spotlight intensity?
“I think there is a lot of media attention, expectation and pressure. And as well as I think players like Ash handle it, I handled it pretty well as well, still it’s tough doing it at home,” explained Jelena Dokic, who was the previous Australian woman to reach the quarterfinals back in 2009.
“It's the adrenaline, the extra energy you have to spend mentally and emotionally that you probably don’t spend in the other Grand Slams and that takes its toll going into it.
“We’ve seen it with someone like Sam (Stosur), and she’s talked about it. She’s done so well in other Grand Slams but not really here. And she’s struggled to do it at home.”
Earlier this month Barty lifted her maiden title on home soil, embracing the ardent support in Adelaide.
The 23-year-old has batted off any talk of expectations as the leading home interest and top seed.
“Yours are? I don't care about yours. It's all good, I'm fine,” joked Barty, dismissing a reporter’s line of questioning on pressure, seemingly thriving in front of a green and gold crowd.
“Like I've said from the very start, for us it's about coming out here and enjoying it. I'm loving every minute. Trying to do the best I can. That's all I can ask of myself.
“I'm trying to make the most of an opportunity to play in Australia. I love playing in Australia. I love playing in front of the Australian public. For me, it wouldn't really make sense not to make the most of that. I have a month in Australia. I want to do the best that I can in that period.”
It’s not surprising that as a Grand Slam champion Barty can cope with such scrutiny, but admits the environment and atmosphere in Melbourne make it a unique experience.
“It’s a little bit different. I think every year conditions can change dramatically. It can be really warm, and that changes the court, changes the balls, changes the way that the matches are played. It could be cold, raining, roofs closed. All these variables that come into it,” analysed the Queenslander, eager to compete with the right mindset.
“Year in, year out, it's about trying to be consistent every single match, trying to be present every single match, not thinking about what's happened before, not thinking about what's to come. It's just about trying to do the best you can on that given day.
“Look, we're all human. We're not going to be 100 per cent every single day. We're not going to win every single time. All you can try and do is put your best foot forward, regardless of you're playing in Australia or all around the world.”
To become the first Australian woman to advance to the semifinals at Melbourne Park, Barty must gain revenge over Petra Kvitova, who 'broke her heart' at this stage in 2019.
Over to the men’s side and Nick Kyrgios’ breakout quarterfinal run in 2015 – the first home male since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005 – could be repeated on Monday night, should the 24-year-old outsmart world No.1 Rafael Nadal.
There is no denying the gregarious youngster is box office with his boisterous blend of hot-shots and animated on-court persona.
Kyrgios has also been a leader in raising awareness and funds for the Aces for Bushfire Relief campaign, providing a renewed focus to the Australian’s title charge, boosted by raucous atmospheres at his matches.
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“Australian Open, I usually feel pretty comfortable,” said Kyrgios, who frequently interacts with fans in the stands and that energy from the crowd was utilised in a sensational thriller with Karen Khackanov in the third round.
“I could feel everyone in the crowd, just everyone trying to will me over the line. It's a good feeling. I think the crowd's awesome. They get a bit rowdy in there (Melbourne Arena). I mean, adding tonight's experience on that court, I've had such good memories in there. I love playing there. I don't know, I just feel at home.”
He will be hoping that ardent support transfers to the Rod Laver Arena for the clash with Nadal, and perhaps Kyrgios can join Barty in the quarterfinals.
No looking beyond … just yet.