Tim Henman's Wimbledon dreams ended in a toothless second round defeat on Thursday -- the Briton's worst performance at his home grand slam in 10 years.
His lame 3-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 8-6 loss to obscure Russian Dmitry Tursunov was the first time since 1995 that he had fallen at the second hurdle.
Wimbledon 2005: Complete coverage
Four-times a semi-finalist at the All England Club, the manner of Henman's defeat to a man who had won just two matches at Wimbledon in his career before Thursday deflated a nation starved of a British men's champion for 69 years.
The sixth-seed was passionless and ineffectual on Centre Court. Approaching his 31st birthday, his best chances of winning the title he covets most must surely be over.
"I've certainly won my fair share of matches in that kind of environment and not being able to come off with the win is disappointing," said the world number nine.
"You sit here and feel numb but as difficult as it is to accept, you have to give the guy credit."
Henman had to fight back from two sets down in his opening match to keep his Wimbledon bid alive.
Two days on from that rather brittle performance, he once again made his army of fans run through a gamut of emotions before he eventually bowed out after three-hours and 37 minutes.
Henman's downfall was his inability to convert the majority of the break point opportunities presented to him.
SQANDERED CHANCES
While Henman squandered 17 of the 22 break points he earned, Tursunov left the Briton reeling with his percentage tennis and capitalised on six of his nine chances.
Playing a man plagued by back injuries, Henman made a promising start when he broke the Californian-based Tursunov in the opening game with a classic volley winner.
But he was soon undone by his failure to convert the majority of chances that fell his way.
Tursunov had claimed the scalp of compatriot Marat Safin on his debut here last year and was eager to add Henman's name to his book of victims.
With the pressure mounting every second, Henman allowed the Russian to level the topsy-turvy match at two sets all.
Despite the crowd doing their level best to lift Henman, the sixth seed looked to be down and out when Tursunov broke the home favourite in the ninth game of the deciding set and attempted to serve for the match at 5-4.
But Henman clung on by his finger nails as Tursunov turned into a bundle of nerves.
The 22-year-old produced consecutive forehand errors to waste two match points and for once, Henman pounced on his opening to get the break back.
Although his heroics revived memories of his comeback from two match points down against Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the first round in 1996, the Briton's respite was not to last.
Tursunov regained his focus to break again in the 13th game before showing Henman the exit with his 20th ace.
"I'm pretty pleased with myself for keeping my head and squeezing through," said Tursunov.
