Disappointed and weary after his Roland Garros exit, Alex de Minaur insists his French Open adventure has persuaded him he really can mix it with the tennis elite.
His German conqueror Alexander Zverev felt the ever-improving Australian No.1 could be battling for the title of ATP Finals champion come the end of his breakthrough 2024 season.
Wednesday's straight-sets defeat to world No.4 Zverev left de Minaur frustrated at not grabbing set point or taking advantage of a 4-0 tiebreak lead in the second stanza that would have changed the complexion of their quarter-final.