"Being humble and respectful and giving it a crack."
With those few words, tennis world No.1 Ash Barty further embedded herself in the heart of a nation after being named Young Australian of the Year.
The 23-year-old did not attend the ceremony in Canberra on Saturday to accept the award from the prime minister, instead receiving the trophy at Melbourne Park where she continues her Australian Open campaign.
"This is bizarre. It really is," she said after finding out she had won from fellow tennis player and former world No.1 Pat Rafter, who was Australian of the Year in 2002.
"For me, my family, my team, we're just trying to do the best that we can every single day.
"To be Young Australian of the Year is unbelievable. Very, very humbling. I don't think I'm deserving of it but, yeah, I'm just trying to be me."
Barty, from Ipswich in Queensland, is fighting to become Australia's first Open singles champion on home soil since 1978.
She has been inspirational as she climbed the ranks to become the world's No.1 women's singles player, as well as serving as the National Indigenous Tennis Ambassador for Tennis Australia.
"All of my values that I've lived by and try to live by every single day, regardless of whether it's in sport ... all come from mum and dad," Barty said.
"It's about being humble and respectful, and giving it a crack - trying to be the best you can be, and that's all you can ask of yourself."
She urged young people to be their authentic selves and said her latest prize is going to sit high on her mantelpiece.
Australian Associated Press