It's an almost-certainty that had Azarenka not endured the barren injury run and off-field issues, coming either side of a hiatus for the birth of her son, Leo, that the Belarusian would be coming into this partnership with the far-bigger Grand Slam haul.

As an incredible-junior turned superstar of the female game for nearly a decade, everyone knows Azarenka's excellent individual attributes, but she has a keen mind for doubles and is a two-time Grand Slam champion in the mixed variety.

Together they make a formidable and naturally complimentary partnership and have been notably improving in virtually every tournament they've played.

They've had a clear run of tournaments together now with little break inbetween. Part of the reason Barty slumped out of the US Open singles so easily was the titanic three-setter she had played only a day previously with Azarenka to make it to the fourth round.

While many doubles partners suffer from uneven prioirties, Barty has always given doubles and her parnters - no matter the difference in skill or career momentum - the upmost respect and dilligence. For her part, Azarenka clearly respects Barty as well.

But while everything may seem rosy on their side of the net, in their upcoming US Open doubles final they face a different task to what they've encountered so far.

Elise Mertens and Aryna Sabalenka are two of the fastest-rising powers in women's tennis. While the 'Bartyzenka' duo (doesn't work, does it?) have faced a myriad of challenges to make it to the final, they're yet to face a power, prodigious duo like this.

The two are unique in their ability to balance highly successful doubles and singles careers simultaneously at such a young age. In a sentence, they're the new breed of women's tennis: powerful and versatile in equal measure.

Mertens has already established herself as the premier doubles player, at number four in the world with a hard-hitting baseline strategy that, on her day, simply blasts volleyers off the court.