From Adelaide to Hobart, across the Tasman Sea to Auckland, trophies have been lifted to mark ideal Australian Open preparation.
World No.10 Belinda Bencic fired a signal of intent over to Melbourne Park with a dominant display at the Adelaide International 2.
On the same centre court, lucky loser Soonwoo Kwon clinched an historic second career title, as Lauren Davis compiled an equally impressive run all the way from qualifying to halt a six-year trophy drought in Hobart.
Richard Gasquet rolled back the years in New Zealand for his first ATP silverware since 2018.
......
Bencic enters the Australian Open as No.12 seed but will join a select few key contenders following her polished performances in Adelaide.
The Swiss returned to the top 10 for the first time since September 2020 with fierce striking to outplay world No.4 Caroline Garcia in the last eight, before an emphatic 6-0 6-2 scoreline against world No.8 Daria Kasatkina in the final.
DRAW: Australian Open 2023 men's singles
DRAW: Australian Open 2023 women's singles
"I'm happy I could show my work here on the court," said the 25-year-old, who is hoping to extend beyond the Australian Open fourth round she achieved in 2016.
"I thought I played some great matches from the start of the tournament and also against different kind of opponents so I really could test myself out there in every way.
“Of course it helps to be confident and to believe in yourself. I won this tournament, but in Melbourne, it starts from zero again.”
For Kwon it was a case of grasping his opportunity with both hands.
Two successive weeks of qualifying losses in Adelaide were erased as the world No.84, who has a career-high ranking of 52, went from lucky loser to champion in a matter of days.
Despite twice going down a break in the decider, Kwon edged Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4 3-6 7-6(4) to become the first South Korean man to win multiple ATP titles.
The 25-year-old has a wicked sense of humour, and reflected on his reversal of fortune this week, “I don't know, just dreams come true now,” he said. “I will change my name, just Lucky Loser.
“Since being beaten in the preliminary round, I told myself I've got nothing to lose, and then I came all the way to the finals. And why not? I can put every energy into it, and that worked.”
Former world No.7 Gasquet wielded his iconic single-handed backhand in a vintage display to clinch the ASB Classic trophy in Auckland.
The 36-year-old defied a 0-3 0-40 deficit in the third set to reel in world No.12 Cameron Norrie to become the oldest champion in the event’s 66-year history.
"It's an amazing title for me, especially now at my age," said Gasquet.
"I didn't think I would win the title. When I came here last week, if you were to tell me next Saturday you will win here, I wouldn't believe it.
"Now of course I have nothing to lose in Melbourne.”
Over to Hobart and American Davis won seven matches without surrendering a set to pose with the trophy.
The 29-year-old was seeded down at No.11 in qualifying, but fought through to a second career title with victory over Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
“I have a lot of emotions going through my body right now,” she said.
“I’m just really happy, really excited. I really had to play my best in order to win today."