Needing to win the mixed doubles rubber to book their place in the tournament’s showpiece contest, Nick Kyrgios and Daria Gavrilova were match point down before recovering to clinch a 6-4, 2-6, 11-9 success over Kenny De Schepper and Caroline Garcia.

Kyrgios, who beat world number two Andy Murray earlier in the tournament, seen as a warm-up for the Australian Open in Melbourne later this month, moved his country to the brink of the final, comfortably beating De Schepper 6-4, 6-4.

The Australia Green team did not quite have it all their own way, however, as Garcia ensured the tie would go down to the deciding mixed doubles match, overcoming Gavrilova 6-4, 7-6.

The result set up a tense finale to a thrilling tie and the Australian pair got off to the best possible start by clinching the opening set.

Testament to the nature of the match-up, however, Garcia and De Schepper fought back, restoring parity as they won the second set. 

Staring a potential exit in the face after the French duo were just one point away from causing an upset, Gavrilova showed a deft touch at the net as her volley levelled the set and they then went on to edge over the winning line to book a meeting with Ukraine tomorrow.

Kygrios and Gavrilova are bidding to become only the second Australian winners of the Hopman Cup, with the country’s last triumph coming in 1999 when Mark Philippoussis and Jelena Dokic beat Sweden’s Jonas Bjorkman and Asa Carlsson in the final.

“It’s an event that’s been held for a long, long time - before I was even born,” Kyrgios, winner of all three of his singles matches, said.

“It’s pretty special.

“Especially me and Dasha - we grew up together in juniors.

“Hopefully we can bring it home.”

Australia's victory denied Britain the chance to compete for the title as the team of Murray and Heather Watson would have progressed had the French pair completed a surprise win against the Australia Green team.

Murray and Watson gave themselves every hope of claiming the second spot in the final, overcoming Germany 3-0 in the day’s first tie.

Watson got her country on the board with an impressive 6-3, 6-4 success against world number 32 Sabine Lisicki, before two-time Grand Slam champion Murray wrapped up the victory, beating Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-4.

The British pair then sealed a whitewash, winning the mixed doubles 6-3, 6-4, though their efforts proved to be in vein.