'De Minaur lit up Ken Rosewall Arena to send Australia's quarter-final against Poland into a deciding mixed doubles rubber, only for John-Patrick Smith and Storm Hunter to flop with the tie on the line.
Australia's baseline warrior repelled everything Hubert Hurkacz could fire at him before pulling out a pulsating 6-4 4-6 6-3 victory over the power-serving former Wimbledon semi-finalist.
The tournament hosts were staring down the barrel of elimination after six-time major winner Iga Swiatek dealt soon-to-be first-time grand-slam seed Maya Joint a harsh reality check with a 6-1 6-1 mauling in Friday night's women's singles encounter.
But de Minaur once again delivered for his country, the world No.6 electrifying his home-town Sydney fans with signature tenacity, speed and courage under fire.
De Minaur had no right winning, fending off 10 of Hurkacz's 11 break-point chances in an epic encounter stretching two hours and 20 sapping minutes.
"Nights like these are just the best," a delirious de Minaur told the packed crowd.
"I love playing here. I love playing in front of you guys. The atmosphere from the very first point to the last was amazing and thank you from the bottom of my heart."
While admitting to harbouring some "dark thoughts" in the third set, the dogged de Minaur produced just two unforced errors to prevail.
"That's what it took," he said.
"I just had to fight him off from the first point to the last, a huge mental effort."
Alas, the Australian spearhead's effort - after he also conjured a singles and doubles win in Tuesday night's 2-1 comeback triumph over Czechia - proved meaningless.
Polish captain Mateusz Terczynski pulled off a selection masterstroke, resting Swiatek and Hurkacz and drafting in Katarzyna Kawa and multiple grand slam doubles champion Jan Zielinski for the deciding rubber instead..
Kawa and Zielinski Swiatek duly dominated Hunter and Smith, winning 6-4 6-0 to seal the tie and set up a Saturday night semi-final showdown against top-seeded titleholders the USA.
Swiatek had earlier overcame a mysterious meltdown to crush Joint in just 58 minutes to give Poland a 1-0 lead.
But the former world No.1's victory was anything but straightforward.
The 24-year-old burst into tears at the opening changeover, despite breaking the Australian teenager in the third game for a 2-1 lead, only to return to the court and play on.
Swiatek gave her courtside teammates a thumbs-up after gaining a double break for a 4-1 lead, and barely lost a point in winning six games on the spin to seize the first set.
The reigning Wimbledon champion was equally as dominant in the second set, showing no let-up or any signs of injury or physical ailments in breaking the 19-year-old Joint twice more to secure a most lop-sided victory.
While Joint will be disappointed with the manner of her defeat, the world No.32 remains guaranteed to be seeded for the first time at this month's Australian Open in Melbourne.
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