Retiring Murray goes on after another epic Olympic win

British tennis icon Andy Murray extended his retirement roadshow at Paris 2024 with another epic win alongside Dan Evans to move into the quarter-finals of the Olympic men’s doubles.

Murray, 37, will call time on his illustrious career at the end of the Games – but has no desire to quit just yet.

The British pair moved into the last eight after winning 6-3 6-7 (8-10) 11-9 against Belgium’s Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen in the second round.

After missing two match points in the second-set tie-break, they took their third in the first-to-10 match tie-break – but only after seeing off two match points for their opponents.

Evans stuck away a volley to leave both men jumping for joy before an elated, elongated embrace.

Murray appeared to sob in his seat as he contemplated what had just happened following the wild celebrations.

“It’s unbelievably emotional. I mean you’re obviously unbelievably happy and then for whatever reason, I don’t know why it happens, it’s like happy tears,” he said.

“I don’t know why that’s the case but I was really emotional at the end of the match.

“Obviously I was extremely happy, excited that we managed to get through.”

Who they will play next remains to be seen.

American third seeds Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul lurk as potential opponents, but they must come through their second-round match against Dutch pair Robin Haase and Jean-Julien Rojen on Wednesday.

Murray and Evans, who have both been battling injury problems this year, will have a day off playing and return to match action on Thursday.

“It was another amazing finish so it takes a lot out of you,” added Murray. “So I’m glad we get a day off tomorrow.”

Elsewhere in the men’s doubles, the high-profile Spanish pair of Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal also progressed to the last eight.

They beat the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof 6-4 6-7 10-2 earlier on Tuesday.

Nadal said he was “having fun” in a “special moment” playing alongside Alcaraz and his teammate was also full of praise.

“Playing at the same side of the net with Rafa, learning from him, it’s unbelievable,” Alcaraz said.

Nadal and Alcaraz are on the opposite side of the draw to Murray and Evans and would not be able to meet them until the final.

Everything has been said before. Many times. And even just two days ago, in fact.

Murray is the man who never gives up, displaying a resilience to go with the ability and which has led to a rollercoaster career.

How many more times can he achieve the barely-achievable?

Here, alongside 34-year-old Evans, the pair are continuing to perform miracles.

On Sunday, they fought off five match points in a first-to-10 deciding set against Japan’s Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori before completing a miraculous comeback.

Two nights later, in sweltering conditions on the same court at Roland Garros, their next outing seemed it could be heading towards a victory with fewer complications.

How naive.

A high-energy start from the Britons was a stark contrast to their opening win against Daniel and Nishikori.

After coming through two break points when Evans served to open the match, they broke decisively in the second game and fought off another opportunity for the Belgians to secure the first set.

Murray and Evans faded slightly in the second set, but they still did not face a break point.

Then came the drama of the second-set finale and the match tie-break.

“What happened again was incredible,” Evans said.

“We’re getting really close to doing something pretty special. We played great tonight.

“People see that, see how good we’ve been in tight moments, and we’re getting better and better.”

Winning a fourth Olympic medal will be as fitting a farewell as it could be for Murray in the circumstances.

The London 2012 and Rio 2016 singles gold medallist, who also won silver with Laura Robson at their home Games in the mixed doubles, is bowing out alongside Evans having opted out of playing in the singles because of fitness concerns.

The veteran Scot only had back surgery five weeks ago to remove a cyst and almost missed Wimbledon as a result.

While his movement is still not perfect, the nous around the court and the technique to execute remains.

Evans, who is playing in his first Olympics at the age of 34, has also been hampered by physical issues.

In the run-up to Wimbledon, he suffered a knee injury which disrupted his preparation and also needed extensive on-court treatment in his Olympic singles match on Sunday.

Given that context, and the escape acts they have performed, it feels remarkable they are even in the quarter-finals.

Who knows how far they can go here in Paris. Who would want to predict?

Murray would not do it.

“The way the scoring system is, and the way the teams play now, the margins are just so fine that anything can happen really,” he said.

“But we’ve definitely got a chance of getting through to the semis.” – bbc.com