Alexei Popyrin’s gallant US Open run at has come to an end with a gut-wrenching third-round loss to Italian Matteo Berrettini.

The 24th seed was a bridge too far for 20-year-old Popyrin, with Berrettini advancing to the last 16 after almost three-and-a-half hours with a 6-4 6-4 4-6 (7-2) win at Flushing Meadows on Saturday night.

Berretti will play either Popyrin’s fellow Australian Nick Kyrgios or Russian Andrey Rublev for a place in the quarter-finals.