Team New Zealand is one win away from a second successive America’s Cup triumph after securing victory on Tuesday to go up 6-3 in the best-of-13 match.

The defending champions won the ninth race by 30 seconds over Luna Rossa in a time of 25 minutes and 29 seconds, leaving the chances of the Italian yacht co-helmed by Australian Jimmy Spithill hanging by a thread.

TNZ will get the chance to win the ‘Auld Mug’ when racing resumes on Wednesday.

“Pretty tight race all in all,” TNZ helmsman Peter Burling said after race nine. “One little right shift … really decided it for us.

“It’s great to walk away with another win as well. We’re just going out and trying to keep learning and improving and doing what we can.

“We’ll keep fighting for as long as it takes.”

America's Cup: Two more race wins for Team New Zealand over Luna Rossa today would give them the Auld Mug.

"Bring home the America's Cup!" was the message from fans as they cheered on Team New Zealand. Can they do it?

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— RNZ (@radionz) March 16, 2021

Challenger Luna Rossa sailed off in disappointment after having been passed late in the fifth leg due to a tactical blunder.

That allowed TNZ to reel in the Italians by the fifth mark and power away over the final leg to a dominant win.

The second race was postponed for about 10 minutes due to unsuitable conditions in the Hauraki Gulf before being abandoned.

Having lost both races on Monday due to a tactical mistake and poor execution, Luna Rossa was again culpable in Tuesday’s defeat.

Who put that there?#AmericasCup #Day6 pic.twitter.com/wigJWoAf64

— americascup (@americascup) March 16, 2021

It cemented a lead after an aggressive manoeuvre pushed TNZ wide of the second mark and held onto it until deciding to shift to the left of the course on the fifth leg.

TNZ found more wind on the right and quickly overtook the Italians before the fifth mark, then left them no chance by roaring through the final leg to the finish.

Race 10 is now a must-win for @lunarossa.

Let's Go!#AmericasCup #Day6 pic.twitter.com/MlMwpBNfkk

— americascup (@americascup) March 16, 2021

Luna Rossa’s Jimmy Spithill apologised to his teammates over the radio for the gaffe while his co-helmsman Francesco Bruni said they had to put the disappointment behind them.

“Yeah, unfortunately, obviously it was a painful (result) but chin up and keep fighting hard,” said Bruni.

“I’m very proud of the full team … , just we couldn’t get every shift right and we missed this opportunity but we need to think about the next race.

“We can still win races, for sure.”