Tennis as it happened: Kyrgios loses comeback singles match in three-set thriller

Well, that’s all she wrote folks.

A thrilling match on Pat Rafter Arena, but a narrow defeat for Australian Nick Kyrgios.

Nick Kyrgios in action against GIovanni Mpetshi Perricard.Credit: Getty Images

We’ll be back tomorrow night to bring you all the live updates from Australia’s must-win tie against Great Britain in the United Cup.

Until then, you can catch up on the Kyrgios match report here.

Happy New Year friends. Stay safe and enjoy your night.

We’ve had some United Cup action across Sydney and Perth today, so here’s where we’re up to with that competition.

• Team USA have topped group A after a 3-0 win over Croatia, and will progress to the quarter-finals
• Team Italy also had a 3-0 victory in their tie against Switzerland today, which means they’ll also move into the quarter-finals
• Team Australia play a crucial tie against Great Britain tomorrow night, where a 3-0 victory is the only way to guarantee a spot in the quarter-finals, otherwise they’re hoping to be the best runner-up team in Sydney.

Kyrgios gets a massive round of applause as he walks off Pat Rafter Arena, but fear not, he’ll be back tomorrow night to play doubles alongside Novak Djokovic.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard has a quick chat after the match.

“Playing against Nick here, it wasn’t a good match for me ... he was very, very confident with a good serve, so I try my best,” he says.

He finishes the match with 36 aces, but is very nonchalant when asked how he thinks he served – “not too bad”.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard celebrates victory.Credit: Getty Images

Game, set, and match.

Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard has defeated Nick Kyrgios 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4) in the Australian’s comeback singles match.

It was a 2 hour and 27 minute battle, but the Frenchman’s lethal serve proved the difference in the end.

A seriously impressive return to the court for Kyrgios, but Mpetshi Perricard was a tough opponent to draw first up.

We’re off to a decisive third set tiebreak.

Nail-biting stuff out on Pat Rafter Arena.

New balls for Mpetshi Perricard’s service game, and Kyrgios jokes that this is the game to break the Frenchman’s serve.

A few lucky balls just scrape the line for Mpetshi Perricard, and it’s starting to get on Kyrgios’ nerve. He asks the umpire to see replays, even though there’s automatic line calling at the tournament.

The Frenchman holds and lead 6-5 in the third set with Kyrgios to serve.

As the two sit down between the change of ends, Kyrgios mentions to the umpire that maybe Mpetshi Perricard’s serve is so fast that the line calling technology can’t pick up on them.

A crazy service game from Kyrgios draws us 4-4 in this third set.

Three aces from Kyrgios to close out that game, which takes his total to 11 for the match.

Meanwhile, Mpetshi Perricard is up to 28. Wild.

A couple of straightforward service games for both players, and Mpetshi Perricard is up 4-3 in this set with Kyrgios to serve.

The winner of this match will face American Frances Tiafoe, who defeated Australian Adam Walton in straight sets earlier today.

Frances Tiafoe during his straight sets victory in Brisbane.Credit: Getty Images

A double fault from Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard – his seventh of the match – opens the door slightly for Kyrgios, but in the blink of an eye the game is over.

The Frenchman holds and is up 3-2 in the deciding set. Fun fact, he’s at 24 aces for the match so far.

Kyrgios to serve.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard serves.Credit: Getty Images