The prospect of making her seventh appearance at the Australian Open would be the ultimate 30th birthday present for Alison Bai, but the Canberra product finds herself without a doubles partner.
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Bai will launch her Australian summer at the Canberra International next month, gunning for a chance to play in the home Grand Slam's qualifying competition.
The Canberran made her first trip to Melbourne Park more than a decade ago but is yet to taste victory in the singles event.
Bai reached her maiden second-round appearance in doubles at the Australian Open earlier this year, but will likely be without her partner Zoe Hives as she recovers from glandular fever.
She'll instead narrow her focus on the $25,000USD tour event in Canberra, before heading to the Hobart International in January.
"I've had a bit of bad luck with my doubles partner and a few bits and pieces like that," Bai said. "I think if I perform and play well at the Canberra tournament, and hopefully I'll also get a chance to play in the Hobart International. I'm planning on going down here.
"There's always a chance because wildcards are never really announced until the last minute. They like to see who is playing well and is in form, then go from there.
"You've always got to be optimistic in tennis because anything can happen - you could have one amazing week and everything could change. There's always chances available, it's being able to put it together for a week then you can just ride the wave and see where it takes you."
Bai lost her first-round singles match to Belinda Woolcock at the Australian Open wildcard play-offs earlier this month, but still could earn entry through the upcoming tournaments.
She's still hoping to sign with a new doubles partner before the Grand Slam begins on January 20 in case Hives is not fit to play.
The duo made their first appearance in the round-of-32 at the 2019 tournament, following a breakthrough season on tour.
Bai reached a career high doubles ranking of world No.129 in November and has her sights set on cracking the top 100 next year.
"The goal at the end of this year was to try and crack the top 100 but I had a few personal things to go through so I wasn't able to completely take that," Bai said.
"But definitely, if I'm able to play the Open, go one better and make the third round that would be a great start to the year.
"Trying to see if I can really crack the top 100 in doubles would be great. It would be great if I can play singles as well but my doubles ranking is a lot closer.
"At the beginning of this year, I went to Hobart and had an amazing run. It was very unexpected and gave me a lot of confidence going into the Open and being able to compete with the best players in the world."
The Canberran has been playing professionally for about 15 years, with a highest singles ranking of world No.305, and she's made $206,738 in prize money.
Bai doesn't know which season will be her last as she enters the later stage of her career, but has no intention of slowing down if she has a successful summer.
"I don't know how long I'm going to play for. I'm still pretty good physically and, touch-wood, I haven't made any major injuries throughout my career," Bai said.
"I'm still enjoying my tennis, I'm enjoying travelling and I still have friends who I've grown up with still playing.
"Obviously everything will depend on how this summer goes really, if it turns out not great then maybe I would have to reassess.
"It's hard because usually you reassess at the end of the season but as an Aussie, the Australian summer is the pinnacle of your career. Every time I say I'm going to stop I end up having an amazing run and I keep going. You've just got to keep riding the wave and if you still sustain it financially then why not?
"You get to travel the world and play sport, so can't really complain in that regard."
Bai has been mentoring at the National Tennis Academy and is considering becoming a coach after she ends her playing career.