Stefanos Tsitsipas wore his trademark headband and the anguished expression of an angler who knew he let the big one get away.
The second-seeded Tsitsipas held a set and a break lead over Hubert Hurkacz and was cruising toward his first Miami Open Masters final four when tennis tsunami struck.
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Hurkacz made a streaking flick pass that blew Tsitsipas' mind and shattered his concentration triggering what he called "self-explosion."
The shot sparked Hurkacz to a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 comeback and left a dispirited Tsitsipas ruing lost opportunity.
"It's a disappointing loss. It's a very disappointing loss," Tsitsipas said. "It left out of my hands. I grabbed it. It was there. Everything was under control. And suddenly, I don't know, self-explosion.
"That's a pity, and I hope it doesn't happen again. I hope things like this will be in the minority of the sport and that I can always close situations and moments like this."
Afterward, Tsitsipas conceded that one stirring shot turned his winning wave into cracked psyche.
"I think I played unbelievable tennis until that point, 6-2, 3-1 up, going for a double break like nothing could stop me. And then suddenly that one shot changed the whole psychology of the match," Tsitsipas said. "Nothing to say. I think I would have done much better this week but it didn't happen.
"Great for Hurkacz who did what he had to do in order to beat me, but I feel like there was a lost opportunity that shouldn't have happened today. Definitely not. It should have been my way. It should have been my win."
Photo credit: Stefanos Tsitsipas Instagram