Andy Murray’s retirement party has been put on hold as he and Dan Evans saved five match points to defeat Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori 2-6 7-6(5) 11-9.
The British duo had to dig deep as they clawed victory from the jaws of defeat as they defeated the Japanese duo.
However for the first set and a half, the Brits were far from their best as they were outplayed by the Japanese duo.
Some flawless tennis from both the net and baseline saw Daniel and Nishikori well on their way to victory.
After a flat start to the match both Evans and Murray managed to elevate their level and put pressure on Nishikori’s serve.
Incredible returning mixed with much more consistently aggressive serving kept Evans and Murray in the match as Evans stepped up for the team when it mattered most.
Some crucial play from Nishikori forced a second set tiebreak as the tension levels increased inside Suzanne Lenglen.
More clutch play from Evans and Murray saw them edge out the second set tiebreak 7-5 as this match would be decided by a first to ten point match tiebreak.
At the start of the tiebreak the British pairing produced some costly unforced errors which saw Daniel and Nishikori take a 9-4 lead as they were surely on their way to victory.
But if anyone thought this match was done then they clearly haven’t followed Andy Murray’s career.
Aces followed by clutch volleying as five match points came and went with Daniel and Nishikori seemingly in disbelief.
The comeback was complete as the Brits won the next two points and claimed a seismic victory despite not being at their best for most of the match.
Next up for the Brits will be either Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen or eighth seeds Arthur Fils and Ugo Humbert.
