Dan Evans has sent Great Britain’s ATP Cup quarter-final with Australia into a deciding doubles rubber with an epic three-set win over Alex de Minaur.
Evans consigned de Minaur to his first loss of the year with a 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-6 (7-2) triumph in a three hour 22-minute thriller at Ken Rosewall Arena.
Nick Kyrgios had put Australia one up with a 6-2 6-2 defeat of Cam Norrie in Thursday’s opening rubber before Evans defied his world No.42 standing to stun 18th-ranked local hero de Minaur.
The loss leaves John Peers and Chris Guccione needing to beat dual grand slam champion Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury in the doubles for Australia to stay alive in the $22 million event.
Evans backed up his impressive wins over David Goffin and Radu Albot in the group stage with a tenacious display.
He repeatedly complained of fatigue during the changeovers and looked spent after the first two sapping sets.
But even after twice relinquishing service breaks in the deciding set and then watching his never-say-die rival fight off four match points, Evans summoned the energy to finally put de Minaur away.
Revelling in the team environment, Kyrgios had given Australia a flying start with his comprehensive win in just 72 minutes.
It was like a party as Kyrgios joked with teammates and skipper Lleyton Hewitt in Australia’s courtside box between games.
But the one-time Australian Open quarter-finalist was deadly serious on court, backing up his pulsating three-set win over Greek superstar Stefanos Tsitsipas on Tuesday night with another classy and composed display.
Mixing under-arm serves with 11 booming aces and an array of dinks and slices, tennis’s most charismatic performer bamboozled Norrie while electrifying the crowd with his energy and flamboyance.
Kyrgios wrapped up the opening set in half an hour before grabbing another three service breaks in the second to put Australia one up in the best-of-three-match tie.
The world No.29 said he loved every minute playing inside the new-look stadium, and for the home fans and his tight-knit team.
“Our team’s got each others’ backs,” Kyrgios said.
“I love the team event. Rusty (Hewitt) is the best captain and all the teammates supporting each other, being there for one another and it’s paying off.”
Australia or Britain will play Rafael Nadal’s Davis Cup champions Spain or Belgium in Saturday night’s second semi-final.
Russia will face Argentina in Thursday night’s second quarter-final.
Spain and Belgium clash on Friday night, after the Novak Djokovic-led Serbia take on Canada in that day’s first quarter-final.
