For the first time, it is not unthinkable that Andy Murray could yet get the perfect send-off, a fourth career Olympic medal in his final tournament.
Last night's great escape was not quite as freakish as on Sunday, when he and Dan Evans saved five match points. This time, it was only two and, in the immediate aftermath, they celebrated like giddy teenagers.
Murray later joked on social media, "Highest I've jumped since 2010," as he flung himself into Evans's arms.
Moments earlier, his tennis obituary was being written yet again, as it was at Queen's, when his back issue reared its ugly head, then Wimbledon and now twice already at Roland Garros.
He and Evans now have until tomorrow to catch their breath. The American duo Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul are the likely next obstacle on this potential fairytale, with Fritz having already been a thorn in Team GB's side by beating Jack Draper in yesterday's singles.
And two-time Olympic singles champion Murray has now allowed talk of a medal, be that in the bronze or, ideally, gold-medal match.
"The next match is important," he said. "If we can get through that one, then you have a couple of chances to get a medal. I lost in Tokyo with Joe [Salisbury] from a
set and a 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 to make it to the semis."
In working out how to book their place in the semi-finals, Murray and Evans have the highly revered Canadian Louis Cayer in their corner.
The LTA's doubles specialist, he has guided Murray's brother Jamie, Salisbury and Neal Skupski to Grand Slam titles and is arguably the greatest doubles coach in the game. Cayer's approach — to be unpredictable but also be a disruptor — was clear from the first game, from Evans in particular.
Such a mercurial talent, he mixed lobs with punching volleys and got into the faces of Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen.
It rattled the Belgian duo, Vliegen crumbling on serve and only finding his rhythm and a way to unpick the Brits midway through the second set. At
I was really emotional at the end of the match. Happy, excited that we managed to get through another amazing finish. It takes a lot out of you
one point, it felt like this might be an easy march into the quarter-finals for Murray but, never one to do things easily, he and Evans lost the second set on tiebreak and again found themselves facing match points.
Once again, neither he nor Evans blinked and, after the celebrations, Murray sat in his seat and sobbed.
"It's unbelievably emotional," he admitted. "You're unbelievably happy and then, for whatever reason I don't know why, but happy tears.
"I was really emotional at the end of the match. Happy, excited 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."
It was clear Murray does not really want to stop. He has constantly talked of being ready to walk away from top-flight tennis with the caveat that he would play on if his body allowed.
Tomorrow might be when it finally ends but, with Murray, who really knows, and the performance was night and day from round one, where they looked for much of it like they had never stepped on a court together.
Like Murray, Evans wears his heart on his sleeve and, like his playing partner, started to dream of what had been unthinkable a few weeks ago. "We're getting close," he said. "Really close to doing something special. People see that, see how good we've been in tight moments, and we're getting better and better."
The rapport between Evans and Murray has always been there, and the tennis is now clearly heading that way, too. The obituaries will have to wait.
