Australia’s Alex de Minaur gallant in defeat to world number five Alex Zverev from Germany

HEARTBROKEN Alex de Minaur went down swinging in a vastly impressive Davis Cup debut, falling in five sets to Germany’s world No. 5 Alexander Zverev. WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS!

Rising Aussie tennis star Alex de Minaur lost in five sets to world No. 5 Alex Zverev.

HEARTBROKEN Alex de Minaur went down swinging in a vastly impressive Davis Cup debut, falling in five sets to Germany’s world No. 5 Alexander Zverev at Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena.

The teen “Demon’’, mixing raw energy with consistency and tactical composure, had been on the verge of one of the great debut wins in Australian Davis Cup history and should have no regrets about a 7-5 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4) loss to Zverev in the opening match of the tie.

A rueful De Minaur, 18, led by a break of serve in the fifth set at 3-0 and had a break point for a 4-0 advantage but made a backhand error.

A pumped Alex de Minaur pushed Alexander Zverev all the way. Picture: AAP

Zverev, who lost a fifth set to love in his Australian Open upset by Hyeon Chung last month, gained some belief from the escape and took the service break back in the next game when the Australian made three groundstroke errors.

De Minaur was fighting back tears as he walked off after Zverev made the most of his greater power in the tiebreak.

Australian Alex de Minaur rgave it everything against Alex Zverev.

De Minaur said he would not “sulk’’ with a turnaround of less than 48 hours before he is scheduled to play German No. 2 Jan-Lennard Struff in the fifth and final match of the tie.

The 18-year-old said it had been “honestly the best four hours of my life’’.

“Right now I couldn’t be more devastated,’’ he said.

“I left it all on court and I’m feeling pretty bad, but overall I’m pretty proud of my effort _ I gave 110 per cent.

“I enjoyed every second of it and hopefully next time I’m able to close it out.

“I can’t sulk. It’s about getting out and supporting Nick (Kyrgios, who went on court shortly after).

Australian captain Lleyton Hewittfres up Alex de Minaur.

“Lleyton (Hewitt) said he was incredibly proud and was trying to get me to not think about it so much. He was proud of the effort and the level I played at.

“It’s one match and I have to forget about it.

“At 3-0 in the fifth, I just wanted to stay in the moment. He started to play better and the whole match turned. I was pleased I was able to get to a tiereak but he was able to ride it out on his serve.

“I think it was all about him being able to get free points on his serve. He’s a top 10 player and in these decisive moments he could get some free points toward the end of the match.’’

Alexander Zverev of Germany, right, shakes hands with Alex de Minaur after taking down the Aussie five sets.

Zverev, who has a poor best-of-five set record and has not made a Grand Slam quarter-final, showed steel in his makeup after being encouraged by world No. 2 Roger Federer that his time in a major would come.

Queensland’s dual Grand Slam winner Rod Laver had presented de Minaur with his gold team jacket last week when he was became the 109th man picked to play for the Australian Davis Cup team.

Alexander Zverev was just too strong in the end. Picture: AFP

Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt had, in his selection of de Minaur for singles duty, backed de Minaur’s mobility and defence to make life difficult for Zverev, who struggled to put the stamp on the contest expected of a top-five player.

De Minaur, ranked No. 139, served notice of years of upcoming service for his Australian team in front of past champions including Ken Rosewall, Ashley Cooper and Tony Roche.

The Spain-based right-hander will not get a chance to play again until the fifth and final rubber on Sunday, when he is scheduled to meet German No. 2 Jan-Lennard Struff.

Struff followed Zverev on court as the opponent of Nick Kyrgios in today’s second Davis Cup singles match.

De Minaur more than held his own when able to draw the world No. 5 into rallies once past the greater serving and forehand power of his opponent.

Alexander Zverev had a problem with Australia’s cheer squad. Picture: AAP

At 3-all in the fourth set, Zverev complained to the tie referee about a sign showed by a member of Tennis Australia’s approved “We The People’’ cheer squad seated together on one side of Rafter Arena. Angered, he reeled off seven consecutive points.

De Minaur’s comfort with the environment on Rafter Arena was apparent, four weeks after his run to a first ATP semi-final in the Brisbane International.

“Alex is playing unbelievable tennis and Australia has a very good one in him,’’ Zverev said.

“He’s going to be up the rankings very soon if he keeps going like that.

“Alex took everything he could out of this match. I kept fighting when I was a break of serve down in the fifth set. I’m playing for my county.’’

Zverev has not made a quarter-final at a Grand Slam event, attesting to his limitations in best-of-five set tennis in a career in which he has twice won a title at the second-tier ATP 1000 level.

“The main thing Roger told me, I’m going to keep to myself. But he told me to keep working hard. He said the result in Grand Slams will come if I keep doing the right things,’’ he said.