Andy Murray is two wins away from guaranteeing himself an Olympic medal in Paris after surviving another rollercoaster doubles match.
The former world No.1 and partner Dan Evans held their nerve to edge out Belgium’s Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 6-3, 6-7 (8-10), (11-9). The British duo failed to convert two match points in the second set tiebreaker and then another two in the decisive tiebreaker before finally prevailing after more than two hours of play.
It is the second match in a row that Murray and Evans have been pushed to their limits. In the first round, they saved five match points against Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel.
“Doubles matches with the way the scoring is and the way that teams play the matches now, things can turn really quickly,” Murray said after his latest win.
“I felt like we played well, we both served well. Maybe we could have returned a bit better.
“We deserve to maybe win that match in two sets but we served a couple of double faults in the second set tiebreaker andthen you’re like ‘oh no, it’s getting away from us’.
But then, you know, when the clutch time came at the end of the third set, we came up with the goods.”
It was visible how much the Olympics means to Murray, who is playing in the final tournament of his career. Immediately after his second round victory, he sat down and started to cry which he later said was ‘happy tears.’
“It’s obviously unbelievably emotional,” he said.
“You’re obviously unbelievably happy and then, for whatever reason, I don’t know why it happens, you get happy tears. I don’t know why that’s the case. But yeah, it was really emotional at the end of the match.
“(I’m) Extremely happy and excited that we managed to get through another amazing finish. It takes a lot out of you that sort of stuff.”
Murray is chasing after his fourth Olympic medal whilst Evans is seeking his first at 34. The three-time Grand Slam champion is the only man to have won back-to-back singles titles in 2012 and 2016. He also won a silver medal in the mixed doubles with Laura Robson in 2012.
The next challenge for the Brits will be either third seeds Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul or Robin Haase and Jean-Julien Rojer.
“The next match, obviously, is a big one. You get through the next one, then you have two opportunities for a medal.” Murray commented.
“I lost in the quarters at the doubles in Tokyo (2020 Olympic Games) in a really tight match. That was tough. But we’ve got a day of rest tomorrow (Wednesday) and we’ll prepare well.”
