11-9, again: With Dan Evans, Andy Murray saves more match points, keeps career alive at Olympics

Andy Murray kept hopes of ending his storied career with a last Olympic medal alive in Paris, partnering countryman Dan Evans to defeat Belgians Sander Gillé and Joran Vliegen, 6-3, 6-7 (8), 11-9 to reach the quarterfinals of the Summer Olympic Games in men’s doubles.

A two-time gold medalist in men’s singles (2012, 2016), Murray previously confirmed the Olympics would be his final tournament, and despite withdrawing from singles to preserve his body, the Brit has looked strong in doubles to win a second straight match with Evans, triumphing in two hours and four minutes on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

Murray has been in the midst of a farewell tour since the summer, playing what would be his final Wimbledon Championships last month and qualifying for the Olympic Summer Games, the site of his greatest career triumphs. The three-time Grand Slam champion had planned to play singles at both events but a cyst on his spine ruled him out the more physically demanding discipline. Partnering Evans, who peaked at No. 52 in doubles back in 2021, the duo roared back from a set down to defeat the Japanese team of Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel, saving five match points and winning a nail-biter match tiebreaker, 11-9.

Things appeared to be more straightforward on the outset of their second round, following another popular team in Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal onto Lenglen after their decisive emotional victory over Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof. Murray and Evans rolled through the first three games and held onto their serve to win the first set, and continued to hold firm early in the second set.

Saving two break points in a marathon ninth game, the Belgians forced a tiebreaker and rallied from 3-1 down in the Sudden Death, saving two match points.

With the score tied at eight points apiece, a close call went against the Brits and Evans cracked on the Belgians' second set point, double faulting to sent the contest into a second match tiebreaker.

With little to separate the pair through the first 12 points, Gillé and Vliegen roared back from 1-3 down and emerged from an exchange of mini-breaks with an 8-6 advantage, drawing a miss from Evans to earn two match points.

In an improbable twist, "Murrevans" saved both to tie the score up at nine and broke the Belgians to earn a match point of their own.

With Murray serving for the match, the Brits executed a flawless one-two punch to roar into the last eight. Awaiting them there will be either No. 3 seeds Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul or Dutch duo Robin Haase and Murray's good friend Jean-Julien Rojer.