Stages are set, the limelight awaits and a quartet of juniors stand on the brink of Grand Slam glory.

As history has shown, a Junior Grand Slam title on a career CV is no guarantee of future success, but such an accolade remains a huge and much-coveted feather in the cap of an aspiring player.

After all, the likes Alexander Zverev, Cori Gauff, Denis Shapovalov, Jelena Ostapenko, Andrey Rublev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Daria Kasatkina have all won Junior Grand Slams since 2014 and have proceeded to make a big imprint on global tennis.

For Harold Mayot and Arthur Cazaux – the French duo contesting the Australian Open boys’ title on Saturday – and Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva and Weronika Baszak, the two girls’ finalists, opportunity knocks to join those esteemed names.

One player who knows exactly how Mayot, Cazaux, Jimenez Kasintseva and Baszak are feeling now as they prepare for battle on Rod Laver Arena and appreciates the feeling of unbridled joy after clearing that final hurdle is 2019 girls’ champion Clara Tauson.

Denmark’s Tauson had just turned 16 years of age when she arrived in Melbourne as the top-seeded girl. She went on to dispatch all before and depart as the junior world No. 1 and the first Danish girl in history to be crowned an Australian Open champion.

“I do not remember anything besides lifting the trophy as the achievement was so overwhelming for me,” Tauson, who received a $25,000 ITF Junior Player Grant in 2019, told itftennis.com. “It took a couple of days before I realised what had truly happened.

“Historically, not many juniors who are the top seed have managed to win, so I was more focused than ever to deal with the situation in a professional manner. I just concentrated on one match at a time and gave my best.

“Being the first junior girl from Denmark to win the Australian Open and becoming No. 1 in the world was amazing. For sure, Australia will mean a lot to me for the rest of my life. I am very proud of what I achieved at the Australian Open.”

Tauson celebrated her victory by dining out at a Melbourne restaurant where she had lasagne followed by ice cream. That evening, she was in the crowd as Naomi Osaka made it back-to-back Grand Slam triumphs by overcoming Petra Kvitova.

On the very court where, only hours earlier, she had defeated Canada’s Leylah Annie Fernandez, Tauson was now observing two stellar names of women’s tennis fight for supremacy, That, however, was not her only interaction with sporting glitterati.

“I was fortunate enough to run into [2009 Australian Open champion] Rafael Nadal who congratulated me, which naturally was a nice pat on the back from a legend of tennis,” said Tauson.

For a period, a whirlwind ensued but above everything else her Australian Open success gave Tauson, who in total claimed nine junior titles, the self-confidence and belief to make the full-time transition to professional tennis.

“The Danish media were very interested in the story of a Danish girl winning the Australian Open, so I had some busy days on returning to Denmark,” added Tauson, who has played six ties for her nation since making her Fed Cup by BNP Paribas debut in 2017.

“Even before, I was sure that I wanted to pursue a career within professional tennis but winning the Australian Open made me believe that it was possible to turn pro just a couple of months later.

“Now, I look upon myself as a professional tennis player which has helped me refocus and embrace the hard work which is needed to further my development.”

It was a blistering start in the professional arena for Tauson who sealed three successive titles between February and March at W15 Monastir, W60 Shenzhen and W15 Xiamen, while further silverware arrived at W60 Meitar in September.

There have been other standout moments, such as competing at July’s WTA Bastad in Sweden – a competition Tauson reveals she has “always dreamed of playing given its proximity to home”. On the back of such results, an intriguing 2020 season awaits.

“Coming from a tiny tennis nation such as Denmark, I have learned to keep my focus on track and be grateful for the opportunities which come my way,” said Tauson.

“My aim for 2020 is to work hard in every aspect to improve both physically, tactically, mentally and technically. I was a good junior player, now my focus is on steadily becoming a solid, complete and successful tennis player.”

One thing for certain, regardless of how the current campaign pans out, her father and coach, Soren, will be there for support and guidance. Tauson added: “He is by far the greatest influence on my career. He has acted as my coach in every tournament since I was seven years old.

“He taught me everything about tennis and I owe him a big thank you for introducing me to the game. I love that he is by my side every step of the way.

“Also, together we have watched hundreds of the most sublime and inspirational Roger Federer matches, cheering for him in a manner that our neighbours sometimes thought we were a little loud.”

A Federer-esque 20 Grand Slam titles is a world away for most players, but for Tauson and the winners of Saturday’s boys’ and girls’ finals, a Junior Grand crown is the first step on what they hope will be a prosperous and trophy-laden road.