Only one month ago, Blake despatched the same opponent in straight sets at Roland Garros, but from the outset today he was in some trouble. Schuettler, undaunted by his failure to beat a top 10 player for four years, immediately began stretching the American.

Then Blake dumped a couple of groundstrokes in the net and found himself at 1-3. Finding a way back was tough – the action was aggressive, with both players going for the lines and 32-year-old Schuettler was powerfully effective. Blake could not save the set.

Schuettler's ranking may currently be 94 but the oldest man left in the draw has years of experience to draw on. He is the only active German player to have made a Grand Slam final (the 2003 Australian, which he lost to Andre Agassi), and perhaps he knew that Blake had never been beyond the third round here.

Early on the second set was going Blake's way. He established a break and for a long time matters appeared to be heading for their natural conclusion. But with Blake serving out the set, just two points from clinching it, he inexplicably stumbled and the tie-break beckoned.

Blake hurled his racket to the ground in frustration, and a few points later was bellowing with rage at himself. In the tie-break it felt as if neither would yield, each man clearly recognising the importance of capturing the set. At 7-7 Blake punched a splendid forehand across the court for the first mini-break, but Schuettler levelled. Next point Blake, 28, out-thought his opponent to re-establish his advantage and inexplicably Schuettler sent a forehand way long. The match was level.

Now Blake had what American political commentators call "the big mo" – momentum. He broke Schuettler immediately and had a point for the double break at 3-0. But it went by, and with just the one break to get back Schuettler was in no mood for surrender, sending down some great groundstrokes. But fundamentally Blake was serving better than the German and hitting more winners, and he served out the set to love.

When Blake again broke early in the third, it seemed the match was a done deal. But despite the mass support for the American from the crowd on Court Three, Schuettler still would not capitulate. He levelled for 3-3. Next game saw Blake on his knees, his head in his hands, as he repeatedly tried and failed to break back. Blake's second serve was not what he would have wished, and Schuettler's returns were effective. At 4-5 Blake put a forehand in the net to give Schuettler three set points, and then repeated the trick to hand over the prize.

Break points were sprinkled about the court early in the fifth as both men tired. At 3-3 Blake created three chances break and saw them all go by; but at 4-5 he was the one in crisis on his own serve as he faced two match points and saved them both. But Schuettler dredged up a third and this time Blake sent a forehand sailing wide of the tramlines.

So it was bye-bye Blake - six Wimbledons to date for one of tennis's most high-profile and popular players and not once has he made the last 16.