A teary-eyed Andy Murray promised pregnant wife Kim he'd be on the next plane home after his turbulent two weeks at the Australian Open came to a crashing end.
Murray's Melbourne Park campaign ended in familiar circumstances, losing to Novak Djokovic in the final for the fourth time.
The Scot played the Open on tenterhooks with their first child due next week, with his wife remaining in London.
The world No.2 vowed all tournament he'd immediately leave Melbourne regardless of his standing if she went into labour and was headed to the airport within hours of the match.
Compounding his emotional fragility was the collapse of Kim's father Nigel Sears, who was courtside as coach of Ana Ivanovic during his charge's third-round match.