Alexei Popyrin is remaining positive after crashing back to earth and out of the US Open with a deflating fourth-round loss to American big-stage showman Frances Tiafoe.
Australia's shooting star was unable to back up his mighty third-round win over the great Novak Djokovic, succumbing 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 6-3 to his friend and foe Tiafoe on Sunday night in New York.
Leaving Alex de Minaur and Jordan Thompson to fly the flag in the men's singles, Popyrin rued an opportunity lost and conceded he "choked" serving for the second set at 5-3, 40-0.
