Claiming only grand slams matter, Nick Kyrgios was unable to contain his despair after crashing out of the US Open with a shock quarter-final loss to Karen Khachanov.
Kyrgios had rocketed into title favouritism after taking out world No.1 and defending champion Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round before second-seeded legend Rafael Nadal also bombed out.
But Kyrgios felt his entire American hardcourt swing - which yielded a seventh career title in a historic Washington singles-doubles double, and a first-time charge to the last eight at Flushing Meadows - had amounted to nothing following his 7-5 4-6 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 defeat on Tuesday night.
"It's heartbreaking. Not just for me, but for everyone that I know that wants me to win," Kyrgios said, before being asked what's next.
"Honestly, I don't even really care about any other tournament.
"I feel like at the grand slams, now having success at a grand slam, it's just like no other tournament really matters.
"It's like you get better, you get worse, then at a grand slam none of it matters. You either win or lose.
"People don't really care if you got better on the day or you lost (six)-four in the fifth or played one of the best matches of the tournament. You lost, so ...
"That's all people remember at a grand slam, whether you win or you lose.
"I think pretty much every other tournament during the year is a waste of time, really. You should just run up and show up at a grand slam. That's what you're remembered by."
With the unvaccinated Novak Djokovic unable to compete in New York, world No.2 Alexander Zverev out injured and then Medvedev and Nadal falling before the quarter-finals, Kyrgios has unquestionably blown his best chance yet to break his grand slam duck.
"I honestly feel like s***. I feel like I've let so many people down," the 27-year-old said.
The home-sick star planned to get the first flight home back to Canberra before trying to pick up the pieces for the Asian swing.
"I'm playing Tokyo and stuff but, like, I feel like these four tournaments are the only ones that ever are going to matter.
"It's just like you got to start it all again. I have to wait till Australian Open. It's just devastating."
After the high from ending Medvedev's title defence two nights earlier, Kyrgios struggled to get going early against the power-serving Khachanov.
Then jarred his left knee, but refused to blame the injury for his despairing defeat.
"Yeah, just came out flat. Physically didn't feel great. Then I ended upped feeling great towards the end of the match," he said.
"Obviously I've been playing a lot of tennis the last couple months. Just came out, the court was a little bit (sticky), I just split-stepped and just tweaked (the knee) a little bit. Ended up feeling fine.
"I got some Deep Heat on it. Everyone is carrying a bit of a niggle right now. Nothing major.
"Yeah, I mean, I didn't end up feeling it towards the third, fourth and fifth. I felt great physically. At the end of the match, honestly I felt fine. Just mentally distraught.
"I feel like I've just failed at this event right now. That's what it feels like."
