Qualifier Polina Kudermetova has blazed her way into the Brisbane International final to earn a possible date with world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka.
The 21-year-old will rise 50 places in the rankings after continuing her hot form at Pat Rafter Arena on Saturday with a 6-4 6-3 defeat of Anhelina Kalinina.
She mixed 40 winners with 35 unforced errors to ensure the match was on her racquet. The victory means Kudermetova will rise from 107 to at least No.57 in the world.
Two-time defending Australian Open champion Sabalenka will play 17-year-old rising star Mirra Andreeva in Saturday night's other semi-final.
Kudermetova's seven-match winning streak in Brisbane include's two qualifying victories, a first top-10 scalp - No.9 Daria Kasatkina in the round of 16 - and has plunged her into a maiden WTA 500 final.
"When I was coming to Australia and I say to my coach (Ravshan Sultanov), hopefully I will win the quallies, the first one," she said.
"Then I say when I was winning the quallies, I say like, let's try to win one game (match) then I will be happy."
A medical timeout to receive treatment to her right arm between sets didn't halt the Russian, who is the second qualifier to reach the Brisbane decider after Aliaksandra Sasnovich in 2018.Â
"For now it's okay; I've had so many matches, I had a little bit of pain, but now it's okay," she said of her forearm.