British number one Jack Draper fell short in his bid for a first ATP Tour clay-court title, losing to Norway's Casper Ruud in the Madrid Open final on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Briton was defeated 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in an absorbing contest in the Spanish capital.
Draper had been on a remarkable run at the Caja Magica, but ultimately couldn't overcome the 14th seed in the championship match.
The defeat ends what had been a fairytale tournament for the young Brit, who has nonetheless established himself as one of the sport's rising stars.
Jack Draper gave his all in an incredible final against Casper Ruud
Reuters
Ruud demonstrated his resilience throughout the match, coming back from a break down in the opening set to take it 7-5.
Draper fought back impressively in the second set, winning it 3-6 to level the match.
The deciding set was a tense affair, with Ruud eventually prevailing 6-4 to seal the championship.
The Norwegian kept his composure against Draper's powerful left-handed game, going toe to toe with the Brit before finally shaking him off.
It was a display of perseverance from the 26-year-old, who had previously struggled in Masters 1000 finals, having not won a set in his two previous attempts.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Ruud, who claims his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title, the biggest achievement of his career.
He becomes the first Norwegian to lift an ATP Masters 1000 trophy, writing his name into his country's sporting history books.
Ruud is just the second man ranked outside the world's top 10 to lift the trophy in Madrid, making his triumph even more remarkable.
The 26-year-old's perseverance has finally paid dividends on the grand stage, having fallen short in previous attempts at this prestigious level.
Casper Ruud landed his first ATP Masters 1000 title after beating Jack Draper in Madrid
Reuters
His cool-headed performance throughout the tournament culminated in this well-deserved championship victory.
Despite the loss, there's a silver lining for Draper, who is set to make his top-five debut in the world rankings on Monday.
This remarkable achievement underscores the Brit's meteoric rise in the tennis world, even without claiming the Madrid title.
Meanwhile, Ruud's victory ensures he will re-enter the world's top 10, a fitting reward for his championship performance.
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Jack Draper's rise this year has been remarkable
Reuters
The tournament has proven transformative for both finalists, significantly boosting their standing in the global rankings.
For British tennis, Draper's performance represents another encouraging sign of strength, with the young talent continuing to fly the flag on the international stage.
