Alex de Minaur fought back from a set down against Dan Evans but was unable to finish off the comeback as the Brit won 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(2) in their ATP Cup quarter-final clash at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
The result levels the tie at 1-1 after Nick Kyrgios was too good for Cam Norrie earlier in the day and means Australia's doubles pairing of Chris Guccione and John Peers must now win their match against Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury to advance to the semi-finals on Saturday.
In one of the best matches of the tournament, both players were pushed to their mental and physical limits before two clinical backhands saw Evans take the advantage in the third set tiebreak.
"That's about as good as I've got really, I got through on the skin of my teeth," Evans said.
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"It was a long day and a long match. Full credit to the crowd, it was a great crowd and I enjoyed playing here.
"It's a great rivalry and hopefully the doubles goes our way."
De Minaur eased through his first couple of service games, even holding Evans to love on seperate occasions, and went up an early break.
But the fiery Evans refused to lie down, working his way back into the set and edging the tiebreak 7-4 to go up a set.
Alex De Minaur at his defensive best. 💪
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 9, 2020
WATCH: @Channel9
STREAM: https://t.co/5bsqpECkOf#9WWOS #ATPCup pic.twitter.com/tSF3Q9SOMQ
Evans struggled physically at times throughout the second set, and was picked up on courtside microphones swearing on several occasions.
Dan Evans serves it up on @Channel9 right now
— Chris Mitchell (@chrismbbcsport) January 9, 2020
"Oh my god I'm f******g hurting" he says.
Tim Henman tells him he's okay but Evans goes for a second service...
"I'm f@@@@@g hurting" he confirms.
All live.#excellenttennis@ATPCup @atptour @ABC_NewsRadio @BBCSport
Henman: "Concentration, come on."
— Lee (@yelnats_eel) January 9, 2020
Evans: "I'm back."
Henman: "You're not going again, alright?"
Evans: "It's your fault".
Henman: "Yeah? Probably! Come on."
De Minaur had the chance to earn a crucial break point in Evans' first service game of the deciding set, going up 15-40, but the scrappy Brit fought back to hold.
Instead, Evans went up a break in the very next game.
But the wild swings of momentum that characterised the match continued, with de Minaur converting his second break point opportunity on Evans' third service game.
Again, the comeback was short-lived as Evans broke once more to go up 4-2.
You wouldn't believe what happened next...another momentum swing and another break for de Minaur.
This time, Evans was hit with a time violation, losing a first serve and the point shortly afterwards. Back on serve at 4-3 and then 4-4 after de Minaur finally managed to hold.
Yet more drama followed as de Minaur broke a lace at 0-40 on Evans' serve, needing a one minute break to change them.
When you need the whole team to tie one shoe 🤣@alexdeminaur #ATPCup pic.twitter.com/kYzt0OX671
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 9, 2020
After saving another break point, Evans held to go to 6-5 and had enough momentum to to earn two match points on de Minaur's serve.
De Minaur rallied again, clawing his way back to deuce and saving a third match point chance for Evans.
The Aussie then sent a rapid serve out wide to save a fourth match point with an ace and was finally - after eight minute - able to win the game and send the match to a third-set tiebreak.
Evans took an early mini-break after coming in to the net nicely but De Minaur's own soft hands at the net allowed him to get back on serve.
With ice in his veins Evans took a another mini break with a risky backhand down the line, and nabbed another with a well-worked cross court backhand to take a 5-2 lead.
The top ranked British player converted his fifth matchpoint chance to level the quarter-final at 1-1 after Nick Kyrgios eased past Cam Norrie earlier in the day.