So chuffed is Jannik Sinner with his Australian coach Darren Cahill, the Italian reckons they could be housemates for life.
The fourth seed will be first onto centre court, against Dutch world No.59 Botic van de Zandschulp, when the Australian Open begins a day earlier than traditionally on Sunday.
The 22-year-old was arguably the hottest player on the ATP Tour to finish 2023, as he beat Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev on his way to the Beijing title.
He then avenged a loss to Novak Djokovic in the ATP Finals decider by outplaying the Serb twice in a day at the Davis Cup before outclassing the in-form Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur in the final in Malaga to inspire Italy to the title.
"I still have that confidence inside me, for sure," Sinner said ahead of Sunday's opener.
A semi-finalist at Wimbledon last year, Sinner's grand slam credentials will again go under the microscope in Melbourne.
He'll have a familiar face in his corner, though, with veteran coach Cahill part of the Sinner camp since mid-2022.
"There are many things," Sinner said when asked of the 58-year-old coach's impact.
"He gives you a point of view not only tennis-wise but also the general view. I really like this. I love the company I have. We have a lot of fun."
Lleyton Hewitt became the world's youngest No.1 under Adelaide's Cahill before the former US Open semi-finalist teamed with Andre Agassi and took him back to the top.
Simona Halep also held the No.1 ranking with Cahill as her coach and Sinner, who also has Italian Simone Vagnozzi as his co-mentor, is his latest project.
"If we would live 24/7 in a house all together, we could live so, so long because we make zero problems out of it," he mused.
"We enjoy our ride, that's good for us.
"It's important, the destination but maybe the most important thing is the company you have around.
"These sort of things you will always remember after your career also."
