Alexander Zverev came agonisingly close to the first Grand Slam title of his career at the French Open.
But the German fourth side was eventually outclassed by new world number two Carlos Alcaraz on the clay at Roland Garros.
The duo carried out a lengthy battle on court Philippe-Chatrier, with the Spaniard defeating the German 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.
The loss represents the second of Zverev’s career in terms of Grand Slam finals, with the world number four having also lost the 2020 US Open final.
The fourth seed will have been very confident heading into the latest major, having just lifted the Italian Open trophy before the Paris tournament.
Andy Roddick fears for Alexander Zverev after French Open final loss
But he really did make hard work of things in the capital, with Zverev taking the longest route to the French Open final since records began in 1991.
Those efforts have now drawn sympathy from former world number one Andy Roddick, who has praised the German for not giving up on the court.
“For me I have a bit of sympathy for where he is going to go,” Roddick said on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast.
“It is going to turn into this conversation of he can make the finals of a slam, what an accomplishment that is, to go through two weeks of your life, 25 hours on court, and it’s going to get digested the same as if he lost third round.
“I hate that for him. I think it sucks. Credit to him for getting through and keeping on putting himself in that position. But I also think it only gets tougher the longer it sits out there.”
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Roddick certainly knows all about coming so close to silverware, with the American having lost four of the five finals he played.
The former world number one did clinch the 2003 US Open title in his first Grand Slam final, but followed that up with four successive final defeats, all of which came against Roger Federer.
Zverev doesn’t quite have such a rival just yet, having lost his previous final to Dominic Thiem, but worryingly that 2020 US Open loss was also settled after a gruelling five sets.
Roddick had plenty to say on the German’s latest heartbreak, noting that the wind ensured the clash in Paris was ‘so weird’.
The American has also called for an electronic system to be used on clay – as it is for hard and grass court tournaments – following a decision from official Renaud Lichtenstein that Zverev did not agree with.
Incidentally, clay court season has now ended, with Zverev now certain to be keen to make a mark on grass when Wimbledon returns next month.
As ever, going all the way won’t be easy, with his recent opponent Alcaraz heading into the competition as the defending champion.
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