Lleyton Hewitt's US Open career ended with a five-set thriller as the veteran lost his all-Australian tie with Bernard Tomic after spurning two match points.
Hewitt, who will retire after his final home grand slam in January, is renowned for his fighting spirit and he showed it again in New York as he battled from two sets and a break down to serve for the match at 5-4 in the decider.
Tomic, however, ripped up the script against his friend and mentor to win 6-3 6-2 3-6 5-7 7-5 and book a third-round clash with Richard Gasquet.
"It is so difficult playing him. I was very, very nervous when he led 5-3 in the fifth, and it could have gone both ways," Tomic said.
"He is a huge legend to me. I always looked up to him. It was very emotional and it was tough to prepare before the match.
"I am sure a lot of people think he is a great legend, not just myself, so for me it was a privilege."
Hewitt's first grand slam triumph came at the US Open in 2001 and the 34-year-old enjoyed the wholehearted support from a packed-out Grandstand court.
"I'll miss the great atmospheres like tonight," Hewitt said.
"Especially the night matches are really special at the Open here.
"I've been fortunate to play in so many long four- and five-set matches out there on all three of the major courts.
"I left it all out there again."
The contest came on a sweltering hot day at Flushing Meadows, with temperatures pushing 33 degrees Celsius in the afternoon.
American Jack Sock had to be carried off from his match with Belgium's Ruben Bemelmans due to heat exhaustion after the 28th seed had collapsed on court when leading 6-4 6-4 3-6 1-2.
It means there have now been 12 male retirements from the tournament, an Open-era record at any grand slam, but Roger Federer questioned players withdrawing because of the heat.
"I'm surprised to hear that players are retiring because of heat," Federer said.
"We've been here in North America for some time. It's not all of a sudden hot. It was more on the warmer side but it's not impossible, to be quite honest.
"There's really no excuse for that. I think everybody should be well-prepared."
Federer eased past Belgian Steve Darcis in straight sets and there were also comfortable wins for Stan Wawrinka, who beat Korean Hyeon Chung, and Tomas Berdych, who defeated Austria's Jurgen Melzer.
Britain's Andy Murray's progress was less straightforward as the number three seed had to come from two sets down to beat France's Adrian Mannarino 5-7 4-6 6-1 6-3 6-1.
Source: PA
