The Australian mixed doubles pairing of Marc Polmans and Storm Hunter have watched a handsome lead agonisingly slip away and the rare chance of winning a Wimbledon final disappear with it on Centre Court.

On a sun-baked Thursday (Friday AEST) as Lleyton Hewitt’s son Cruz kept the Aussie flag flying by making the semi-finals of the boys’ event, Victorian Polman and Rockhampton-born former world doubles No.1 Hunter succumbed 4-6 7-5 6-2 to Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko and El Salvador partner Marcelo Arevalo.

The experienced duo, who’d got to the Australian Open semi-final together five years ago, had looked on their way to becoming the first all-Aussie duo to win the mixed crown at Wimbledon for 35 years since 1991 when John Fitzgerald and Liz Smylie took the title.

Up a set and 3-1, they appeared on course to be the first Aussie victor in any mixed final since Sam Stosur prevailed alongside Serbian Nenad Zimonjic 12 years ago.

But former French Open champion Ostapenko found her range for the second seeds in the second stanza, as the unseeded 31-year-old Hunter, the former world No.1 doubles player, and 29-year-old Polmans saw their lead evaporate on a warm evening after another steaming day at SW19.

“I loved every second out here today. I enjoyed it, Stormy, thank you so much for playing - it’s a pity it’s over,” Polmans told his partner at the court presentation, while Hunter agreed: “It was so much fun to be back here, three years since I’ve been back at Wimbledon. It’s an honour to play on this court.”

Earlier, 24 years since his dad lifted the Wimbledon crown, his 17-year-old lad Cruz continued his impressive run as the last Australian singles player in action in the junior event, crushing Bulgarian ninth seed Dimitar Kisimov 6-1 6-2 in just 53 minutes.

It’s propelled him into the semi-final without yet having dropped a set in four matches, and he’s hoping victory in Friday’s last-four clash with Dutch 11th seed Thijs Boogaard will make him the first Australian to make the boys’ final since Alex de Minaur 10 years ago.

De Minaur lost that final to Denis Shapovalov, but Hewitt, who’d already surpassed dad Lleyton’s best finish in the junior event of a last-16 place back in 1997, is looking good to become the first Australian boys’ champ since Luke Saville in 2011.

The teenager blasted down 10 aces and cracked 22 winners with his dad, whose taking part in the invitation doubles for former stars, watching on at courtside, and the youngster wasn’t hiding how much fun the event’s been for him.

“It’s incredible because I still remember when I was little, hitting on these courts, coming watch my dad play, and especially he’s playing here as well, and then all my family here too, so it’s definitely nice to do it here,” said Cruz, who grinned he “was a little happy about” surpassing his dad’s junior run at SW19.

“This is another step, really. I don’t think the job’s done yet. I would love to play another good match next match, that’s all I’m focusing on right now. I am very happy; just trying to stay level-headed, I guess,” said the young Sydneysider.

Thanasi Kokkinakis’s bid to reach the men’s doubles final crumbled when the Adelaide man, alongside American Aleksandar Kovacevic, went down 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (10-8) to top seeds and 2024 champions, Briton Henry Patten and Finn Harri Heliovaara, in a tight semi-final.