Australia is still alive in the Davis Cup, with Jordan Thompson and debutant Rinky Hijikata coming back from one set down to perform a great escape and win the opening Sunday doubles rubber at Ken Rosewall Arena.

After Alex de Minaur and Thompson both lost their singles matches on Saturday, the Lleyton Hewitt captained Aussies needed to win the doubles rubber to remain in the tie ahead of the reverse singles.

Their hopes of advancing to the Final 8 in Italy in November looked all but over when Thompson and Hijikata lost the opening set and found themselves down 0-40 on Hijikata’s serve in the second.

But after showing the kind of grit Hewitt himself made his trademark, Hijikata dug deep and eventually won a seesawing marathon three-setter to send the tie to the reverse singles.

“I grew up watching his (Hewitt’s) Davis Cup ties and how much energy he bought to the court,” Hijikata said. “I didn’t want to let the boys down.

“I hope everyone can stick around today, because we’re not going anywhere.”

De Minaur takes on world number 46 Zizou Bergs next, and needs to win to send the contest into a fifth and deciding rubber between Jordan Thompson and Raphael Collignon.

Thompson replaced John Peers alongside Hijikata and the duo began positively against Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen in front of a raucous home crowd, going up 6-3 in a first set tiebreak.

But when Thompson’s serve faltered twice, the Belgians stormed back into it, won the tiebreak and moved to within one set of a historic win.

At 3-3 in the second set, the more experienced Belgian duo had four break points on Hijikata’s serve, but the Aussie fought back bravely, securing a much-needed hold with an overhead smash by Thompson.

It proved to be a turning point in the set and the match, with a fired up Hijikata hitting a brilliant backhand winner to earn the Aussie pairing their first service break.

There were some nervous moments on Thompson’s serve, with Australia going behind 15-40, before once again clawing their way back into it for a brave hold.

The crucial break came early in the third set, with 80-year-old tennis legend Tony Roche firing up the Aussies from his courtside seat.

Spurred on by the crowd and his energetic younger teammate, Thompson converted the first of his two match points with an ace to claim a stunning 6-7(6), 6-3 6-4 win.

“Two rubbers down, do or die dubs and big fella’s debut,” Thompson said. “It couldn’t be more special and I’m happy to be a part of it.”