Grigor Dimitrov was left in tears on Rod Laver Arena, so close and yet so far from world No.1 Rafael Nadal.
Dimitrov broke down after losing his first grand slam quarter-final 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (9-7) 6-2 in match of missed opportunities.
His pain was still raw when a question in the post-match press conference about blowing three set points in the third set again prompted tears.
“What can I say? It hurts,” said the 22-year-old charge of Australian coach Roger Rasheed.
“Of course I shed a few tears, but it should hurt.
“Obviously I’ve got to put that in the past.
“I’m sure I could have done something different but in a match everything comes down to a split second.”
The champion Spaniard admitted that he was “lucky” and likened the Bulgarian to Swiss great Roger Federer.
“If he keeps playing this way, the normal evolution will take him all the way to the top,” Nadal said.
“He has all the qualities to become a great champion.”
For now, crying on Rod Laver Arena may be the most Federeresque thing Dimitrov has ever done.
He said he couldn’t wait to get back out on the court to start work to make sure he’s remembered for much more than that.
“I’m really excited to get back on the court in the upcoming weeks and start working and get to the same stage and try to do it again,” the Bulgarian said.
“Of course, I’m deeply disappointed. I’m not going to lie. But at the end of the day, I have to take the positives out of the match and move on.”
In the third set, Dimitrov levelled but he wasted a set point in the 12th game and another two in the tiebreak – before a wild forehand saw Nadal clinch the set.
“I was so lucky,” Nadal said.
Dimitrov’s dogged performance will go a long way to ensure he’s known more for his tennis than being the partner – or “Handbag” as he’s been dubbed – of women’s superstar Maria Sharapova.
Earmarked as a future world No.1, Dimitrov will crack the top 20 for the first time next week following his maiden run to a grand slam quarter-final in Melbourne.