Alex de Minaur has been left deflated by another agonising big-match loss as inspired local hero Valentin Vacherot wrote one more extraordinary chapter in his fairytale rise by reaching the Monte Carlo Masters semi-final.
World No.6 de Minaur, watched by his mum in his player's box at the Monte Carlo Country Club on Friday, saw another big opportunity evaporate as he eventually succumbed 6-4 3-6 6-3 against the sport's 'Cinderalla man' Vacherot, the Monegasque who's risen spectacularly from nowhere over the past six months.
It felt like one of those near-misses that 'Demon' berated himself for last season as he looked to have weathered a storm from the powerful Vacherot and gradually wore him down, only for the weary 27-year-old to summon one last blistering salvo to down the game Australian after an absorbing two hours and 24 minutes.
