Andy Murray’s career has been full of matches that he won when he really shouldn’t have.

As he extended his playing days for at least one more match, the Scot, alongside Dan Evans, needed to go to the well once again.

The duo saved two match points to get the better of Sander Gille and Joren Vliegen, eventually triumphing 6-3 6-7 (8) 11-9.

But unlike Sunday’s win over Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori, and so many other Murray miracles, this was a controlled performance, simply injected with some of the late drama to which he is seemingly addicted.

He said: “The first match was quite different to today. We didn’t play well in the first match and were very lucky and today it was the opposite.

“If I was standing here having lost that, I think Dan and I would have been very disappointed as we played much better than the first match.

“I served way better and we deserved to win today. Great to save a couple of match points but it shouldn’t have got to that stage.”

Match points escaped Murray and Evans in the second set tie-break, having also had the chance to break at 4-4 for what could have been an even earlier night.

Instead, they dropped that second set tie-break 10-8, an Evans double fault following a net cord that both Brits were adamant had been ignored.

That call would have been more contentious had they not fought back. But a big Evans serve followed by an even better Murray return twice denied the Belgians.

And when Evans put a smash away to finally seal victory, the emotion for both men was overwhelming.

As the tears started to appear, Murray said: “It’s unbelievably emotional. You’re unbelievably happy and then for whatever reason, I don’t know why but happy tears.

“I don’t know why that’s the case but I was really emotional at the end of the match. Happy, exciting that we managed to get through another amazing finish. It takes a lot out of you so I’m grateful for a day off tomorrow.”

Next up for the pair is a clash against either Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, or Dutch pair Robin Haase and Jean-Julien Rojer up next.

Win that, and they will be guaranteed at least two more matches, a semi-final and either a battle for gold or bronze.

And having stepped up their performance from round one to round two, Murray is desperate to maintain the upward trajectory and avoid a quarter-final exit, as he suffered three years ago in Tokyo alongside Joe Salisbury.

He added: “We need to perform at a really high level to go through. You build confidence by winning matches like that and your opponents see that you come back from behind and it builds belief but you can’t have that mentality of oh it’s just going to happen now, we need to be switched on for the next one and let’s see what happens.

“The next match is important. If we can get through that one then you have a couple of chances to get a medal. I lost in Tokyo with Joe from a set and break up and playing extremely well.

“The way the scoring works in doubles and the way the teams play the margins are so fine now but we definitely have a chance of making it to the semis.”

When it comes to Murray, there is always a chance.

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