Taylor Fritz has held served at 6-6, so …

We’re heading to a tie-break!

We’re not there just yet, but it feels like this match will be decided by a tie-break.

Taylor Fritz has just held serve and the score is 5-5.

When Hubert Hurkacz went 5-4 up on serve, an enormous chant of “Polska, Polska” reverberated around Ken Rosewall Arena.

A “USA, USA” war cry has also gone up — the atmosphere is electric in Sydney!

It’s 4-4 in the third set, with games on serve.

Taylor Fritz looked shaky in his previous service game when Hurkacz got the score to deuce.

But the American served his way out of danger to level the set.

Games are on serve early in the deciding set.

Taylor Fritz will serve at 1-2 in an attempt to level the set against Hubert Hurkacz, who seems full of running after winning the second.

We’re going to a third set!

Hubert Hurkacz has finally broken Taylor Fritz and what a time to do it.

He won the second set 7-5, just as it seemed we were heading towards a tie-break.

I agree Mike, it would have been great to see Reilly Opelka at full fitness tonight.

And thanks for reading the blog, we appreciate having you on board!

The second set could be headed to a tie-break, with Taylor Fritz and Hubert Hurkacz holding serve so far.

Fritz is serving at 2-3.

Barbora Krejčíková, the world number 10 has pulled out of the Australian Open with a back injury.

She posted a note on social media saying she was looking forward to being back soon.

“Hi everyone, I wanted to share a quick update regarding my withdrawal from the Australian Open,” she wrote.

“Unfortunately, my back injury, which troubled me at the end of last season, is still not fully healed.

“It’s really disappointing because I love playing in Melbourne and have such great memories from reaching the quarterfinals last year.

” Thanks to all of you for your support. I’m working hard to get back to full health, and I can’t wait to see you on the court soon!”

Reilly Opelka has revealed it was a concern with his back that forced him to retire from the Brisbane International final.

“I’m bummed, I’ve been looking forward to play Jiri, when he had his breakthrough on Tour I was injured so I’ve been watching him from my couch at home.

“Unfortunately my back has been giving me some issues, the tournament doctor and ATP physio have been pretty unbelievable at throwing the kitchen sink at it, and we did, we worked on it literally all day but unfortunately it just wasn’t right enough to compete.”

It was clear in the five games that were completed that the American’s mobility was limited.

It was a wise decision to withdraw, given the Australian Open begins in a week, and we hope to see Opelka at Melbourne Park.

The US can see the United Cup trophy in sight …

Taylor Fritz has won the first set against Hubert Hurkacz 6-4.

Coco Gauff had earlier beaten Iga Świątek in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4 to give the Americans a 1-0 lead.

Not the news we wanted to bring …

Reilly Opelka has retired from the final while trailing Jiří Lehečka 1-4.

Opelka had not looked in great shape from the opening game and it’s unclear if it’s to do with the wrist concern he had in the semifinal.

Not the way Lehečka would have wanted to win the Brisbane title, but congratulations to the Czech.

There’s worrying early signs for Reilly Opelka in the men’s final in Brisbane.

The lanky American lost his opening service game to Jiří Lehečka, who leads 2-0 in the first set.

The momentum is with the US in the men’s singles rubber, with Taylor Fritz breaking Hubert Hurkacz’s serve in the fifth game.

The world number four leads his Polish opponent 3-2.

Not long to go until Jiří Lehečka and Reilly Opelka begin the men’s final in Brisbane.

We’ll keep you posted of developments throughout the match.

Taylor Fritz and Hubert Hurkacz are going through their on-court warm-up in Sydney.

Should Fritz win, the US will claim its second United Cup trophy.

A Hurkacz victory will level the final at 1-1 and force a deciding rubber in the mixed doubles.

The US goes 1-0 in the final against Poland!

Coco Gauff has beaten Iga Świątek in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

Leading 5-4, Gauff broke Świątek to clinch victory after the Pole double-faulted on the American’s second match point.

The men’s singles rubber will be up next, with the US hoping Taylor Fritz can prevail against Hubert Hurkacz to seal victory in the final.

SABALENKA WINS!

Two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has defeated Polina Kudermetova in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Sabalenka didn’t have it her own way after dropping the first set to the Russian qualifier.

But the world number one shifted gears in the second set before closing out the win in the third.

It’s Sabalenka’s first Brisbane title after finishing runner-up last year.

A valiant effort from Kudermetova, who had qualified for the main draw.

She will enjoy a major rankings spike after arriving in Brisbane as the world number 107.

Aryna Sabalenka’s serve has let he down when it mattered most.

Serving for the title at 5-1, she was broken by Polina Kudermetova.

But Sabalenka still has a service break up her sleeve at 5-2.

Aryna Sabalenka breaks Polina Kudermetova in the sixth game of the third and final set.

She is serving for the match at 5-1.

What a game!

Coco Gauff breaks back to level the second set at 4-4 against Iga Świątek.

In a marathon eighth game, Świątek saved two break points but Gauff converted on a third with a ripping down-the-line forehand.