A hold to 15 for Konta, but the British number one's body language screams of a woman who knows her tournament will soon be over. But what a tournament it has been, eh. 

Image source, EPA

Kerber rattles off the opening two points quickly, and there's no sign of Konta - who has made 33 unforced errors - dragging herself back from the brink. It's a hold to 15 for the German. Konta's remarkable journey is coming to an end. 

A third break point to Kerber and the sound of the German bellowing "come on" tells us all we need to know, that she's heading towards her chair with a double break. 

Konta netting and she now has a mountain to climb. 

Is it time to play the Jaws soundtrack? Possibly. 

Kerber collects the opening two points, her strokes forcing Konta onto her heels and, inevitably, she buckles. Der-dum, der-dum... 

The British number one spraying shots here, there and everywhere. Two break points Kerber. Dum-dum, dum-dum...

Konta on the attack, manipulating Kerber before seeing her off with a backhand winner. One break point saved, and the second one is wiped out too as Kerber nets a forehand. 

To deuce? Let's. 

A routine hold for Kerber who is now content to play within herself, not make any needless errors. There is no need to dazzle. Konta the one having to gamble like a high roller at a Las Vegas casino.  A hold to love for the German. Ominous. 

A stunning backhand return from Kerber takes the German to 15-30 and, understandably, she clenches the fist and roars. 

Konta needs to play without fear, but that is easier said than done. 

The British number one's backhand is still the weapon of choice, understandably so as a crosscourt winner flies by the German for 40-30. The Briton targeting the German's forehand, pinning her strokes into the corner and eventually Kerber crumbles. 

Kerber pulls through, Konta's backhand drifting beyond the baseline at deuce and the British number one is in a slight pickle. 

Kerber now resembling a top 10 player, a dreamy improvised winner into the corner has the crowd purring. 

At 30-30, Konta still has hope and the British number one turns defence into attack with a thigh-slappingly good forehand down the line which forces the seventh seed to net. 

Break point Konta! 

Ace! Break point saved. To deuce we go... 

The sparkle which helped Konta rattle off four games in a row in the middle of that first set has dimmed. The seventh seed, buoyed by being able to place the first set in the bag, is cutting a relaxed figure, swinging loosely, accumulating three break points. 

Konta with much to do. A  sublime winner down the line chalks off one breaker, but she can do little to prevent Kerber from breaking with an angry overhead. 

Kerber approaching the net more frequently now, pinning Konta back. 

The roof will not be closed. The first set will reach its conclusion with the sun peering down on it. 

Too many unforced errors from Konta, bringing up three set points for Kerber and the German finishes it off brilliantly - dragging Konta to the net with a peachy dropper and seeing the Briton off with a deft forehand down the other side. 

There's a slight delay. An official is talking into a walkie-talkie. Apparently rain has been spotted falling from the sky, which is big news in Australia it seems.  

The roof was closed for the first semi-final between Williams and Radwanska but blue skies appeared for the second bout and the first set has been played under sunshine. 

Leon Smith
Great Britain Davis Cup captain

"Just a few cheap errors from Jo and she was chasing the game. The momentum swings back to Kerber but I think Konta can return an awful lot better in this game than the last couple. I'd like to see her come off the baseline more and sneak a double fault if she shows Kerber she's ready."

Image source, Getty Images

The game begins with one of the longest rallies of the match, the pair grunting and groaning, maneuvering each other from side to side at the back of the court... Konta steps forward, eyes widen, an opportunity to pounce - but slaps a makeable volley into the net. 

How costly will that miss be? Very. Potentially. Two break points come Kerber's way...

Brilliant! Another tussle, Konta turning defence into attack by arrowing a backhand down the line, which Kerber nets. 

One break point to go...  Konta netting a forehand. Kerber to serve for the set. 

A rare dash to the net from Konta, but fortune favours Kerber when her forehand clips the net, leaving Konta with little chance of gathering. 

Konta getting plenty of opportunities to go for clean winners, but the British number one needs to find the target a tad more regularly. 

Konta hitting the backhand across the court and it's causing Keber problems. The British number one cruising at 40-15, but the seventh seed swings from the hips on the next point - clubbing a forehand beyond Konta to draw closer at 40-30. Oohs from the crowd. The shot of the match so far. 

But despite that flash of Kerber brilliance, it's the 24-year-old Konta yelling "come on" as the German nets on the next point, allowing Konta to hold. 

Kerber is the more experienced of the two, the one who is accustomed to playing into the second week of Grand Slams, but the German's swing is stifled, which is why she's botching many a forehand. 

The German holds to 15, though, stopping Konta's march. The Briton still gambling, going for broke on the returns, but in this game such a strategy fails to pay off. 

Image source, AP

Konta now performing as if she's been dining at the top table of her sport for an age. A second ace of the match and a 30-0 lead opens up. Kerber, sticking to the back of the court, is being made to look ordinary. She's constantly netting, Konta overpowering her. 

Four games in a row, a hold to love, and Konta's fired up. 

Leon Smith
Great Britain Davis Cup captain

"You can only recover like that if you've put in the work off the court - it's because she's in a better place mentally, that's why she's been able to get it back to 3-3."