August Holmgren failed to qualify for the French Open main draw for the first time in his career this time.
On Thursday, the Danish tennis player lost an even qualifying final against Argentine Facundo Diaz Acosta 7-6, 4-6, 2-6.
Thanks to his ranking as number 150 - five positions better than Holmgren - and his skills on clay, Diaz Acosta went into the clash as the favorite, but the Dane challenged Acosta for two hours and 30 minutes.
August Holmgren generally played a fine first set. He broke to lead 1-0, but was broken back immediately, before the players held serve until 6-6 without giving up break points.
Holmgren then delivered a tiebreak to near perfection. He served well himself, but he also seized the chances in the Argentine's serve.
Diaz Acosta made rare errors with his forehand, allowing Holmgren to go up 3-1, and on the next point, the Dane stepped into the court and won the point thanks to a sublime backhand return to lead 4-1.
Holmgren's backhand again worked its magic as the Dane won the tiebreaker 7-2.
Holmgren carried the momentum into the second set, where he won the first six points, but Diaz Acosta got his game going again and held serve to 1-1.
The Argentine also got the upper hand in the rallies, allowing him to break to 3-2, and he also had two chances to break to 6-3, but Holmgren fought with everything he had to stay in the set.
The Dane actually had a chance to break serve to restore parity at 5-5, but Diaz Acosta was saved by his serve and secured the set with 6-4.
In the deciding set, Holmgren hung on to 2-2, but was then broken twice when his strength began to wane after a long match.
Clara Tauson is thus the only Dane left when the draw for the French Open, which begins on Sunday, is made on Thursday.
Holmgren can, however, hope that late cancellations can bring him into the tournament as a so-called "lucky loser".
Holmgren has only participated in the main event of a Grand Slam once. It was at Wimbledon last year that he sensationally reached the third round.
