Laura Robson's Wimbledon dream is over as the 29 year wait for a British women's quarter-finalist ticks on at the All England Club.
Former quarter-finalist Kaia Kanepi - who has risen as high as 15 in the world rankings - produced a big-serving fourth round performance but was pushed by Robson, who will certainly rue missed opportunities to reverse the result.
It was only the second appearance in a Grand Slam last 16 for the British number one - who reached a similar stage at last year's US Open - but she knows she is better than the 7-6, 7-5 scoreline.
Kanepi, ranked 12 places below world number 38 Robson, has made a habit of claiming British scalps in recent weeks - beating Heather Watson at the French Open and home wildcard Tara Moore in the first round at SW19.
Robson is the first British women's player to reach the fourth round in 15 years and was seeking to end an even longer wait for a quarter-finalist - Jo Durie reaching that stage in 1984, when she was beaten by Hana Mandlikova.
Both players appeared nervous in the early exchanges but Robson finally started to find her range and rhythm with her powerful groundstrokes and thudding foreheads.
She had the chance to serve for the set at 5-4 but was broken as Kanepi rallied and the opener headed for a tie-break.
Robson established a mini break to establish a 5-2 lead but Kanepi then won four points on the spin and while the British number one saved her first set opportunity, the momentum was on the side of the Estonian, who seized her second set point chance.
Robson held her nerve and saved two break points at 3-3 in the second set but her trusty forehand then started to stutter.
And Kanepi finally broke to love at 5-5 and then served out the match at the first opportunity, although not before the home favourite saved three four points in some late but ultimately futile resistance.
Meanwhile, there will no repeat of last year's British men's doubles success for Jonny Marray, who alongside new partner Colin Fleming, lost in the third round.
The sixth seeds were beaten 7-6, 7-5, 6-3 by ninth seeds Robert Lindstedt and Daniel Nestor. Lindstedt and former partner Horia Tecau lost last year's final to Marray and Fredrik Nielsen.
© Sportsbeat 2013