When Jack Draper talked about missing an opportunity after his French Open defeat, he was not just referring to missing out on a quarter-final spot.
Britain’s world number five was also frustrated at not setting up a chance to test himself against the man he wants to catch – world number one Jannik Sinner.
Draper’s fourth-round loss to 62nd-ranked Alexander Bublik meant he missed out on a chance to try and avenge his US Open semi-final defeat by Italy’s Sinner.
It also offered a sharp reminder of how the 23-year-old Englishman still has to bridge the gap to Sinner and world number two Carlos Alcaraz at the Grand Slams.
“Draper is on the cusp – he has to keep doing what he’s doing,” British former world number four Greg Rusedski told BBC Sport.
“Jack has not had a full year where he has been healthy until now.
“Sinner and Alcaraz have been consistently healthy and consistently rising.”