Unseeded American Jamie Hampton knows she will have to lift her game when she makes her first appearance in a WTA singles semi-final.
Hampton, 22, has the imposing task of trying to topple world No.4 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland at the ASB Classic in Auckland on Friday.
The world No.70 has already performed the role of giantkiller this week, upsetting defending champion and fourth seed Zheng Jie of China on day one.
But she mixed some flat patch amongst her impressive shot-making in beating her next two opponents, hometown hope Marina Erakovic and Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens.
While she got past Erakovic in straight sets, she was taken to three by Bertens in their quarter-final on Thursday night before winning 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-2.
“I’ve been a little patchy, a little up and down,” she said.
“I know that’s not going to cut it [against Radwanska]. I’m going to have to step it up.”
The pair have met three times before, with the 23-year-old Radwanska, who is top seed in Auckland, winning all three.
“I’ve going to have to be aggressive with my game,” Hampton said.
“I’m going to have to execute. I’m going to have to come forward and not be afraid.”
Radwanska has yet to drop a set in the tournament and she progressed through to the last four with a 6-3 6-3 win over former Auckland finalist Elena Vesnina of Russia.
The other semifinal will between the third and eighth seeds – Belgian Yanina Wickmayer and German Mona Barthel.
Both have also reached the last four without losing a set.
Wickmayer, a two-time Classic finalist and the 2010 champion, won her quarter-final against compatriot Kirsten Flipkens 6-3 6-4.
Barthel had an even easier passage against Swede Johanna Larsson, taking just 44 minutes to complete a 6-2 6-1 victory.