Coco Gauff's brilliant Australian Open run came to an end with a fourth-round defeat by fellow American Sofia Kenin.
The 15-year-old was bidding to become the youngest player to reach a grand slam quarter-final for 15 years, and she was one set away when she took the opener in a packed Melbourne Arena.
But 14th seed Kenin had other ideas, eventually wearing down Gauff in a 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-0 victory.
The 21-year-old has had her own speedy rise, although without the attention of Gauff's, and will play in the last eight of a grand slam for the first time.
Kenin said: "It was such a tough match, she's such a tough player, all respect to her.
"It means a lot to me, I'm so happy to be through to the next round. I just tried to play my game, fight for every point and not focus on anything else."
Gauff's victory over defending champion Naomi Osaka was on paper certainly the best of her fledgling career but, so poor had the Japanese been, it was difficult to gauge how well the teenager had actually played.
Nevertheless, it is clear that Gauff has improved a lot since making the fourth round of Wimbledon and the third round of the US Open, with her serve, backhand and athleticism already among the best.
"My short-term goal is to improve," she said.
"I'm doing well right now at 15. I still have so much I feel like I can get better on. Even my parents, my team, they all believe I can get better. I don't even think this is close to a peak for me."
TODAY'S AUSTRALIAN OPEN SCORES
Kenin, who knocked out Serena Williams at the French Open last summer, is a feisty competitor and a good tactician, and it was she who made the more solid start to open up a 4-2 lead.
But Gauff worked her way into the contest, gradually making her extra power count and forcing Kenin on to the back foot.
Gauff was hitting her second serve faster than Kenin was sending down her first - only two women have served faster than Gauff this tournament - and the teenager exploited some loose play from her opponent to level at 4-4.
She had one set point at 5-6, which was saved well by Kenin, but two double faults in the tie-break were costly for the 14th seed and, although she saved three more set points, Gauff composed herself superbly to take the fourth.
The turning point came when Gauff double-faulted three times to drop serve in the fourth game of the second set and from there Kenin pulled away.
Gauff was in tears at the end, but she said: "I had a lot of fun. The crowd was really rooting for me. I had a great tournament.
"I was disappointed that I lost obviously. I think naturally when I lose, I'm just a bit emotional."
Under WTA rules, she can only play one more tournament before she turns 16 in March, which will be the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Meanwhile, last year's runner-up, Petra Kvitova, is back in the last eight after coming from a set down to defeat Greece's Maria Sakkari 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-2.
She will play Ashleigh Barty in the quarter-finals after the Australian kept her hopes of winning her home grand slam title alive by beating Riske 6-3 1-6 6-4.
Barty lost to Riske at Wimbledon and alarm bells were ringing on Rod Laver Arena when the American took the second set comfortably.
She was then pegged back from 4-1 to 4-4 in the deciding set but secured victory when Riske double-faulted on match point.
