With the second Grand Slam of the year in the not-so-distant future, attention is turning to clay courts in preparation for Roland Garros. However, the women’s finalists from the first Grand Slam have ridden a wave of success on hard courts in the first quarter of the season. How far will it extend?

In what became a harbinger, Li Na and Dominika Cibulkova met in the Australian Open final, where Li won her second Grand Slam title. Now 32 years of age, the veteran from China has elevated her game to its career best with seemingly endless fuel left in her tank. Meanwhile, Melbourne marked a statement by Cibulkova, who announced to the tennis world that she aspired to reach the top of the rankings. Both competitors have built upon their early 2014 successes with a string of convincing outings and career milestones.

After shaking off an injury that derailed her at Doha, Cibulkova followed up her Australian results with a title in Acapulco and solid appearances in both the Indian Wells and Miami marquee events. The 24-year-old advanced to the quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Open and took that result one step further with a Miami semifinal. In both occasions, she fell to Li after tightly contested three-setters.

With determination and grit, the Slovak broke into the world top 10 for the first time in her career this week. Only three months into the season, Cibulkova has notched victories against Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova and (twice) Agnieszka Radwanska, all players who were within the top 11 in the world when they met.

For her part, Li underscored her Grand Slam title with a finals run in Miami after a semifinal appearance at Indian Wells, defeating Cibulkova along the way in both tournaments. In her five events this year, the Chinese veteran has captured two titles, including one major, while advancing to a final and a semifinal in the Premier Mandatory events. Given these early results, it is no surprise that Li has moved to world no. 2, the highest ranking ever for a Chinese player.

Li should feel at home during the clay season, having won her first Grand Slam title in Paris. She holds an impressive 42-15 record on that surface in the last five seasons. Meanwhile, Cibulkova will look to return to her 2012 success on clay, when she produced positive results. With a finals run in Barcelona and quarterfinal appearances at Roland Garros, Rome and Brussels that year, she established a comfort level on the dirt. (By contrast, 2013 was a struggle as she advanced past the second round only once.)

After new career peaks in the first quarter of the season, both players now have their sights set on loftier goals. For Li, closing the gap on world No. 1 Serena Williams is now a prospect that is not altogether out of her realm. She hopes to have an opportunity as she works towards the second Grand Slam of the season. Like many, her head-to-head record against the American is not impressive. Li has defeated Williams just once in 12 career meetings. Nonetheless, if Williams were to somehow falter, Li must like her chances at Roland Garros and other clay events.

Cibulkova may have longer-term goals in mind. Now in the top 10, she must aim to build on her Grand Slam success while qualifying for the WTA year-end championships in Singapore. Whether that will become a reality will likely hinge upon success on the clay and grass courts this spring and summer. Certainly, Cibulkova has served notice that she is a competitor who can rise to the occasion at Grand Slams and marquee tournaments.

As the season shifts into the spring, the success of these two women could help shape the look of 2014. With early success and larger goals in mind, there is much to anticipate in the remainder of the year for these two fast starters.