Heartache. Euphoria. Frustration. Delight.
There was no shortage of emotions for Alex de Minaur after the Australian wildcard's giant killing run finally came to an end in the Brisbane International semi-finals on Saturday.
But when the dust settled on his 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 loss to unseeded American Ryan Harrison at Pat Rafter Arena, the 18-year-old mostly felt pride in emulating his idol Lleyton Hewitt.
The Sydney-born, Spain-based teenager had become the youngest Australian to reach an ATP semi-final since Hewitt in 2000 thanks to his Brisbane surge.
And he looked set for another stunning victory with Hewitt cheering him on courtside while up 5-3 in the second set tiebreak against world No.47 Harrison - ranked 161 places higher than de Minaur.
However 25-year-old Harrison showed his experience to book a showdown with third seed Nick Kyrgios, scuppering the organisers' dream of an all-Australian Brisbane final.
"You have some of your biggest highs and then you've got some matches where you finish and you're a little bit heartbroken," de Minaur said.
"But this is what I love about this sport. You know, the highs and lows.
"It's an incredible high for me this whole week and I'm just using it as a learning curve to bigger and better things.
"So I'm really looking forward to what's to come."
Mentor Hewitt could be seen urging de Minaur on as the teenager did his best impersonation of the former two-time grand slam champion.
And just like his idol, De Minaur didn't die wondering despite letting a huge opportunity slip in the second set.
With de Minaur up a set and 5-3 in the second set tiebreak, Harrison dug deep to ignore the vocal crowd and rattle off the next four points to claim it 7-5.
It appeared to break de Minaur's spirit as Harrison broke twice to grab a 4-0 third set lead.
However de Minaur broke back with Harrison serving for the match up 5-2 to bring the packed crowd to life again.
But it was too little, too late for de Minaur.
"It's been a great influence and a great help," he said of Hewitt's influence.
"I'm so appreciative for everything he's done for me."
De Minaur will now move to the Sydney International and then the Australian Open after earning a wildcard.
His ranking will rise to a career high 166 after reaching his first ATP tour semi-final with a run that included the scalp of former world No.3 Milos Raonic.
He was the lowest ranked player to reach the Brisbane semis in the tournament's 10-year history.
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