Alexei Popyrin admits it's back to the drawing board in the search for big-time tennis consistency after his encouraging French Open week ended in anti-climax at the hands of American iron man Tommy Paul.
The last Australian man standing at Roland Garros wasn't about to hide his disappointment after the crushing 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 hammering by No.12 seed Paul, but Popyrin could at least be enthused about a run which took him to the last-16 again, his best Paris outing yet.
After admitting he had ended his tournament feeling "mentally fried" while Paul, even after two back-to-back draining five-setters, still looked as fresh as a daisy, Australia's No.2 said he would be back feverishly working with his team to discover the match-by-match consistency that still eludes him.
Tremendous in his third-round win over Nuno Borges, this time Popyrin was mistake-riddled, coughing up 37 unforced errors and was wild on the forehand, while his backhand, which he has reworked successfully under new co-coach Wayne Ferreira, completely misfired.
"I'm definitely happy with my week's work, just disappointed with the way it ended," the 25-year-old Sydneysider said.
"Look, if I lost this match and I played good tennis then, then I would have been sufficed and happy, but I lost and didn't play my best, really didn't do what I wanted to do, what I've been what I've been banging on about all week, consistency.
"There was no consistency today, it was a very, very up-and-down match. And it was just not the way I planned for it."
Outplayed in all departments, it felt like a huge let down for the 25th seed who had been hoping to go at least one round further than last year's US Open when he downed Novak Djokovic before falling in the last-16 to Frances Tiafoe.
His exit in nine minutes under two hours meant Daria Kasatkina, in her first slam since gaining permanent residency, is now the last Australian standing, as she faces Russian teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva in Monday's last-16 women's clash at 7pm (AEST).
Popyrin had harboured high hopes after not dropping a set in his first three contests, and all started swimmingly as he broke the 28-year-old Paul in the opening game.
Alas, that was as good as it got for him.
The American, renowned for his toughness, saved the rest of the 10 break points he faced throughout, never allowing the Australian to gain a foothold.
"He just played a tactically spot-on match. If you want to beat me, that's the way to play. He managed to break down my backhand somehow and we're gonna have to go back watch that and figure out why, and then we'll work on it," Popyrin said.
"He played really, really well, I didn't bring my best level, but I still had chances in the first and second sets … but he played a great match."
Any chance of a comeback was soon extinguished when Paul, for a third set running, struck with an early break, and Popyrin cut a forlorn figure by the time a 26th Paul winner flashed by him on the final point.
He is the first American man in the quarter-finals here since Andre Agassi in 2003 and Popyrin feels Paul is a live contender as he plays either compatriot Ben Shelton or the reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarters.
As for his own progress, he is encouraged about getting on to the grass which, in theory at least, should aid his big weapons.
AAP/ABC
