Kyle Edmund immediately switched his focus to Wimbledon after losing to Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals of the Nature Valley International in Eastbourne.
After an encouraging week and just days before his home grand slam, the 24-year-old squandered five set points against his American rival to drop the opening set before losing 7-6(8) 6-3.
Fritz, 21, instead progresses to the final against his compatriot Sam Querrey, who earlier defeated Italy's Thomas Fabbiano 6-3 6-7(4) 6-3, but even amid the sense of a missed opportunity, Britain's highest-ranked player insisted that there were positives to take.
"Playing three matches was good," he said. "For sure I wanted to win this week. It didn't happen, but it's nice just for me to play matches. I probably haven't played as many matches as some of the players, but it's good to be building some momentum again.
"Going to Wimbledon, it's always nice to have momentum; just more in terms of the overall year, it's good for me.
"I would have loved to have taken the first set or a break in the second just to get myself in the match in terms of the scoreline, but couldn't take them. That's the most frustrating thing."
Can't stop won't stop💥 @Taylor_Fritz97 downs Edmund 7-6(8) 6-3 to set up an all-🇺🇸 final 💪 Watch the #NatureValleyInternational live on @TennisTV pic.twitter.com/h4hh4xjNXG — ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) June 28, 2019
As the 30th seed at Wimbledon, Edmund will play Jaume Munar of Spain in the first round on Monday, and he said: "You have to be on it, ready. It's an exciting tournament, especially for British players.
"Either way, whoever you draw, you sort of have to really focus on yourself and be engaged, regardless of what they say is the better draw on paper.
"It doesn't matter who I play. If I don't go out there and apply myself and put myself in good situations, especially at Wimbledon, then you've got no chance really. So I'm more focusing on myself rather than the draw.
"Playing in Wimbledon just itself is an amazing experience, like, you know, an honour. But it doesn't last forever, and you do feel when you are there it has an amazing presence.
"When you are walking around you're at somewhere special.
"Any player would say that Wimbledon is probably the best tournament in the world, but being a Brit has that extra element to it that is special. You know every match you go on court you're the one getting cheered on."
Fritz's serving was particularly impressive, sometimes going beyond 130mph.
An all-🇺🇸 showdown awaits 👀 Who will take home the #NatureValleyInternational 🏆? pic.twitter.com/0W6H9Yg4Mc — ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) June 28, 2019
He said: "It's the first final I have made in three years. It's been on my mind for a long time. So I have been expecting it of myself for three years now.
"I practiced with (Querrey) the day he got here and he was playing unbelievable. He's playing great. It's not surprising to me at all that he is in the final.
"It was really nervy (against Edmund). There were so many chances for him in the second set to break me. I'm happy to get out of it in straight sets."
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