People see Andy Murray as angry, but this is what he was REALLY like back at the Village after our Olympics epic, writes his doubles partner DAN EVANS
- Dan Evans and Andy Murray fought back to keep their Olympics dreams alive
Playing with Andy Murray at the Olympics on Sunday was one of the best experiences of my career. Winning in the first round has given us a foothold in the competition, but the match was mad.
We caught the bus back to the Athletes' Village after the match and just cracked up. We were laughing because everyone in the stadium was so shocked that we pulled it off. We were trailing 9-4 in the tie-break and most people would have thrown in the towel.
Andy's not like most people, though. He's the greatest British tennis player of my generation. You don't put Andy away like you do most players.
Opponents feel an aura that he is never out of the fight. People see him as an angry presence on court, but as a partner he is incredibly calm. The confidence he gives off is special. He's very methodical and when he's setting up for a point he gives off this feeling that it's all under control.
A match like that takes a lot of physical and emotional energy out of you. It's not something we've discussed, but the narrative around his retirement makes it a big deal. He's one of the greatest British athletes of all-time and you wouldn't be human if that's not at the back of your mind.
![Andy Murray and Dan Evans fought back to reach the men's doubles second round in Paris](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/29/22/87918289-13685635-image-a-192_1722288570477.jpg)
Andy Murray and Dan Evans fought back to reach the men's doubles second round in Paris
![The Team GB duo were on the cusp of crashing out before they rallied back at Roland Garros](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/29/22/87918353-13685635-image-a-193_1722288681164.jpg)
The Team GB duo were on the cusp of crashing out before they rallied back at Roland Garros
There is always more media around when it's Andy. Everything is under a little bit more scrutiny, but that's what you want as a player. We ate a bit of chicken and rice at the court, had some treatment and then jumped in an ice bath to recover.
Your body is full of adrenaline after a match like that so it's hard to get to sleep. I went to the canteen at the Athletes' Village for a second round of food. They seem to run out of things there, but I had some pasta and got to bed at about 1.30am.
Back in the village, there's always something going on. It's like a makeshift town. There's a supermarket, a beauty salon and everything else you could want. I missed the Tokyo Olympics because I caught Covid and that has made this experience even more enjoyable.
On the regular tennis circuit, you don't spend too much time with people from other sports. I was sat in the lodge the other day talking to athletes from the trampolining team. We've got English TV coverage so we all gather around to watch the Brits.
Boxing is one of my favourite sports and I went to see Charley Davison in the bantamweight competition on Saturday night. All her friends and family had been invited along to watch and she lost. It was hard to watch because I could see how much it meant to them.
![The narrative around Murray's looming retirement makes it a big deal, Evans has admitted](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/29/22/87918449-13685635-image-m-195_1722288711539.jpg)
The narrative around Murray's looming retirement makes it a big deal, Evans has admitted
![Evans lost in the singles to Stefano Tsitsipas but the event had not been his priority](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/29/22/87918497-13685635-image-a-196_1722288786869.jpg)
Evans lost in the singles to Stefano Tsitsipas but the event had not been his priority
Four years and it was over in nine minutes. Sport can be a tough place at times, but on the other side you see someone who is having the best day of their life.
Myself and Andy will be back out today and are hoping to build momentum.
I lost in the singles yesterday to Stefanos Tsitsipas, but that has not been my priority. I thought about pulling out after I winded myself earlier in the week, but that would not sit right with me when I'm representing Great Britain at the Olympics.
Andy has had a day to recover, so that works in our favour and we just want to start a little bit faster.
The parties for the athletes who have finished competing look like fun, but we are not ready to join them yet!
I had to opt out of the opening ceremony boat parade because I had a match the next day. When I saw everyone coming back looking like drowned rats, I realised I'd made the right decision!