Optimism within Melbourne Park quickly became consternation when Andrey Rublev hit the power button late in his round of 16 victory over Alex De Minaur.
The Australian had entered the tournament as the first local men’s single entrant in the top 10 since Lleyton Hewitt close to two decades ago. With three high-profile victories in the lead-up, 24-year-old was the best chance of lifting the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in recent memory.
De Minaur was Luke Skywalker in his X-wing, the leader of a rag-tag, 15-strong fleet of local players desperate to find a way to dismantle the Death Star of Australian tennis: the 48-year-old drought for local men at their home grand slam.
The assembled force was the largest since 1998. And though most players were ranked closer to 100 than one, it was hoped quantity if not quality would see an Australian go deep into the second week.
But when De Minaur’s run was ended by a laser cannon forehand from Rublev after four hours and 14 minutes, there were none left. Again.
Though De Minaur had beaten world No 1 Novak Djokovic in the lead-up, the nature of his defeat against Rublev – brilliant defence bested by an opponent’s world class weapons – renewed questions about the Australian’s ceiling as a grand slam contender.
De Minaur is known for doing it the hard way. One of the tour’s best at staying in the point, he has the mobility and court craft to push opponents deep into their bag.
Yet the common refrain is he doesn’t boast the natural weapons of someone like Nick Kyrgios, or even Alexei Popyrin, whose 17 aces and appetite for attack on his forehand tested Djokovic in the second round.
De Minaur himself remains committed to his recipe for success.
“I think I dealt with it pretty good until a certain stage,” he said. “Life goes on, I know the areas that we’ll work on and again, like I’ve done my whole career, I’ll get better.”
To some Australians, the glass is half empty. They might ask where the next Pat Rafter or Pat Cash, let alone the modern-day Rod Laver or Ash Barty, is coming from.
Yet those who watched the Australians closely at this tournament are likely to see it another way.
This crop of men’s players may have limitations. By the high standards sets by the likes of Laver, Ken Rosewall or John Newcombe, they might even be judged as mediocre professionals, working the grind of the tour.
Yet each has a story, style, and a vulnerability that is endearing.
Take Max Purcell, the laconic serve and volleyer, who took 11th seed Casper Ruud to five sets in the second round and who admits he needs to bite his tongue from time to time, while remaining scathing with his coffee reviews.
Or his doubles partner, Jordan Thompson whose love for rushing the net almost saw him go up two sets to love against Stefanos Tsitsipas in his round of 64 match, before bowing out at that stage for the fourth time.
Entertainer Thanasi Kokkinakis gave fans in John Cain Arena great value against 13th seed Grigor Dimitrov, even if he couldn’t get the win. That’s five times now, out in the second round.
And Jason Kubler and Rinky Hijikata, last year’s unlikely doubles champions, who both lost heartbreaking first round matches.
All are part of a generation of players who push and support each other in equal measure, a growing fraternity normalising life in the top 100.
And while there are fewer Australians in the higher echelons of the women’s rankings, their stories are equally compelling.
Ajla Tomljanović, speaking after her two topsy-turvy late night clashes, was open about the depths of her despair in the wake of knee surgery last year.
Daria Saville, the fun-loving former Russian who, returning from her own injuries, suffered on-court pain in a three hour, 13 minute heartbreaker against Poland’s Magdalena Fręch in the first round.
And then of course the best story in Australian tennis this year: world doubles No 1 Storm Hunter.
The Rockhampton product has struggled with self-belief her entire career, but was unlucky against 9th seed Barbora Krejčíková in the third round and is desperate, at age 29, to put her doubles success on the backburner in 2024 and see just how far she can go up the singles ladder.
While this cohort may never lift a grand slam singles trophy, their travails add to their charm and as the bar on Melbourne Park’s party court closes at the end of this week, Australia’s tennis family will be back on the practice courts, working to meet the public’s expectations – and their own.
“To be honest, perspective changes with results,” De Minaur said after his defeat, cap worn low but forever resolute. “I’m playing some great tennis”.