Andy Murray prevailed in one of the more extraordinary matches of his career in the Dubai quarterfinals, beating Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-7(4-7) 7-6(20-18) 6-1.
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The second set tiebreak score above is not a typographical error, for Murray did indeed come through it as the victor of its 38th point.
Had that tiebreak been stretched just a point further, it would have been the longest men's tour tiebreak since 1991.
The blood pressure of many of his fans would have been tested to the extreme as Murray ensured a third set by taking his eighth set point of the breaker and facing down seven match points for Kohlschreiber in the process.
The first set went the way of the German after Murray double-faulted in a more run-of-the-mill tiebreak. Kohlschreiber has snatched sets from Murray in their past matches, though no-one could foresee at this point the route that the Scot would have to take to stay alive in this tournament.
Murray broke near the start of the second set to give the impression of finally taking control, but was broken back when serving to take it to a third.
There followed the titanic tiebreak in which Murray squandered four set points before dicing with danger to go 8-9 down.
Murray reached into his drawer of superlative plays to stay in the contest several times before finally taking the set.
Unsurprisingly, Kohlschreiber wilted thereafter as Murray turned on the afterburners to speed towards the semifinals.
Onwards to Friday's semis then, where Murray will play Lucas Pouille.
