Andy Murray fought back alongside Dan Evans to continue his tennis journey at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the doubles while Rafael Nadal progressed in the singles to set up a second-round tie with old foe Novak Djokovic.
Murray and Evans pulled off a spectacular comeback in the deciding tie-break at Roland Garros, saving five match points on the clay court.
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It looked like Murray’s retirement would be starting earlier than expected but for the 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 11-9 win for Team GB.
Japan’s Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori will feel hard done by after putting in an impressive performance, but there was an understandable release of emotion from Murray and Evans when they came from 9-4 down in the tie-break.
Speaking after the match, Murray said: “There was a lot of instinct and maybe we were overthinking it slightly at the beginning of the match.
“When we were behind, like at the end of the second set, we started going for it a bit more and we came out with some great stuff.
“I certainly didn’t play well so we will definitely need to play better in the next round, but I do think we will.”
Evans added: “I couldn’t believe it happened. We just played point for point and, when we were down, we just stuck to the game plan.
“Then we got back into it and it was a good return from Andy in the end which got us through.”
Andy Murray wasn’t going to go out like that 😤#PARIS2024 PIC.TWITTER.COM/PJ5L3VZHKZ
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) JULY 28, 2024
For the former and two-time Wimbledon champion, it is his fifth and last appearance at the Olympics and he remains the only player to have won two singles titles at the games, taking back-to-back golds at London 2012 and Rio 2016.
Murray previously said there is no perfect ending for a tennis player, but winning one final medal alongside his compatriot would be as good as it can be.
His surgery at the start of the year put his commitment to the calendar at doubt but he pulled through and now has a real shot at success in his final bow.
Battle of the Greats
Meanwhile, Nadal got through a tough singles match against Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics to schedule a date with Djokovic.
The 38-year-old won 6-1 4-6 6-4 despite having worries that he might not be able to compete at the Olympics due to a recent thigh injury.
The King of Clay was playing at the scene of his previous 14 titles at Roland Garros and took to the court less than 24 hours after winning his doubles opener with Carlos Alcaraz.
After breezing through the first set, concern filled the stadium as Fucsovics fought back to win the second.
NADAL WINS IT! PIC.TWITTER.COM/E3IXQGQWSY
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) JULY 28, 2024
But the Hungarian was unable to keep the levels to Nadal’s standard.
With a heavily strapped thigh, he powered through the final set to book a date with Djokovic for what might be the final time.
Nadal hinted earlier in 2024 that this may be his final year on the tour and it is fitting he should face one of the greatest of all time on his favoured surface.
Between them, Nadal and Djokovic have won 46 Grand Slams, with the Serb having two more than the Spaniard.
And it is set to be a thrilling contest as both compete for the only missing title from their CV’s – an Olympic gold medal.
