Tennis Another Houdini act keeps Murray's swansong on the road

Andy Murray is two wins away from adorning his career swansong with a medal at Paris 20204 after he and his men's doubles partner, Dan Evans, reached the quarter-finals with a dramatic win over Sander Gillé and Joran Vliegen having saved two match points.

- Nick Ames

The 6-3, 6-7 (8-10), 11-9 win was a further act of escapism after their white-knuckle ride two days previously in the first round. On that occasion they had to recover from five match points down in overcoming Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel; this time they lost two of their own before battling back when they came under fire, Evans ultimately putting the third away with an emphatic volley before leaping into Murray's arms.

These were ecstatic celebrations, and now Murray, twice an Olympic singles champion and three times a grand slam winner, can hold realistic hope of going out with a bang at 37 years old. Lying in wait next are either the American pair Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz or the Dutch partnership Robin Haase and Jean-Julien Rojer. If Murray and Evans win that tie they will reach the semi-finals and will, as a minimum, be guaranteed a shot at bronze.