Australia has missed the chance to reach the United Cup 2024 final after a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Germany in an incredible semi-final tie in Sydney that finished at 2:18am (AEDT) on Sunday morning.
After Ajla Tomljanovic and Alex de Minaur split their singles matches with the Germans, the tie was decided by the mixed doubles, with Storm Hunter and Matthew Ebden going down 7-6(2) 6-7(2) 15-13 in a super tiebreak to Laura Siegemund and Alexander Zverev.
Before defeat, the Australian duo had two match points of their own and saved four from the Germans in an epic super tiebreak that finished in the early hours of the morning at Ken Rosewall Arena.
MORE: United Cup results, scores, schedule, draw for 2024 tennis tournament in Sydney and Perth
Hunter and Ebden go down in doubles epic
Zverev was playing his fourth match in two days, doubling up again in the singles and doubles like he did during Germany's win against Greece in the quarter-final.
However, he showed no signs of tiredness as he and Siegemund took the first set 7-6 after a tight affair with Hunter and Ebden.
The match continued to be a tussle in the second set with the Australians clinching it in a tiebreak - which meant a super tiebreak of first pair to 10 points would decide the United Cup finalist.
Hunter and Ebden led 0-3 early but the German duo clawed back to 7-7 before two consecutive points meant the visitors would have two chances to reach the final.
However, the Australian pair saved both match points and earned one of their own at 9-10 that was squandered.
Incredibly, the Germans failed to take an advantage of another match point at 11-10 but the Australians even had one more of their own at 11-12.
But Ebden and Hunter couldn't seal Australia's place in the United Cup final, with Siegemund and Zverev sending Germany through on their fifth match point.
The Germans will now meet Poland in the United Cup decider on Sunday night, who feature world no.1 Iga Swiatek and ninth-ranked Hubert Hurkacz in the singles.
De Minaur fights back to defeat Zverev
Earlier, de Minaur has announced himself as an Australian Open contender with a come-from-behind win against Zverev.
With Australia 1-0 down against Germany after Tomljanovic lost to Angelique Kerber, De Minaur fought back from a set down to defeat world no.7 Zverev 5-7 6-3 6-4 in two hours, 42 minutes.
It was De Minaur's third top 10 win in a week, having beaten world no.1 Novak Djokovic and no.10 ranked Taylor Fritz at the United Cup.
Tomljanovic shows signs in Kerber defeat
To open the Australia-Germany tie, Tomljanovic showed signs of returning to her best in a 4-6 6-2 7-6(7) loss to Kerber.
The former Australian no.1 spent most of 2023 injured but she looked strong at times against the German three-time Grand Slam winner.
Tomljanovic was too strong for Kerber in the first set with her powerful groundstrokes setting up a 6-4 result.
But the 35-year-old German, who won majors at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open, showed her experience to fight back and clinch the second set 6-2.
The third set went to a tiebreaker with Tomljanovic having two match points before Kerber secured the opening match of the tie for Germany.