Andy Murray delays retirement with epic Olympics comeback alongside Dan Evans | Tennis | Sport

Andy Murray’s professional tennis career lived to see another day as he and Dan Evans pulled off an incredible comeback with Dan Evans.

They saved five match points to beat Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel in a match tiebreak 2-6 7-6(5) 11-9, winning the last seven points in a row.

Murray and Evans received a loud cheer as they stepped out onto the second-biggest showcourt at Stade Roland Garros after 6.30pm local time. As the three-time Grand Slam champion warmed up for the final time, he was met with an ovation from the fans left in the stands.

It was half-full and likely didn’t help that veteran Frenchman Gael Monfils – almost certainly playing in his last Olympics – lost the previous match on the same court to Lorenzo Musetti, and fans were finally taking a break. There was still plenty of support for Team GB with cheers and Union Jacks in the stands.

But a large majority of the seats in the arena were still noticeably empty as play went on and the energy was flat considering the occasion. Murray and Evans took a 2-1 lead in the first set before things quickly went south and they lost seven games in a row.

Trailing 2-6 0-2, they suddenly earned a crucial break and the fans rewarded them with chants of “let’s go, GB”. They were immediately broken again but the mood had shifted and the atmosphere. The Brits got back on serve again and saved a break point to lead 5-4 as Murray roared and the crowd went wild.

The energy had completely shifted by the time they got to the second set tiebreak and Murray’s classic “let’s go” roars could be heard ringing out throughout the arena as he and Evans took it 7-5 to force a decisive, first-to-10-point match tiebreak.

It looked as though Murray was about to say goodbye to his illustrious career as Nishikori and Daniel took a 9-4 lead. Their first match point was on the Scot’s serve and he saved it with an ace.

And it became a tale as old as time in Murray’s career – a microcosm of what makes watching him so special. Somehow, he and Evans found a way to save all five match points. They went from 4-9 to 11-9 and immediately jumped into each other’s arms to celebrate.

For now, Murray is still an active professional tennis player.