Of all the numbers that define Andy Murray’s extraordinary career, one perhaps stands out more than most: 1000.
When he stepped onto court against Alexei Popyrin at the Queen’s Club on Tuesday, it was the 1000th time Murray had contested a professional match.
That is a remarkable milestone for anyone but perhaps more so for the 37-year-old, whose career looked all but over just five years ago.
There have been some highs since his hip surgery, but the past few months have been far from pretty for the Brit, who entered potentially his final Queen’s campaign with a 5-11 record for the year.
And, at a tournament where he won a record five titles during his prime, he was handed no real favours when the draw was updated on Sunday.
In Popyrin, Murray was up against no ordinary qualifier.
The Australian has beaten Andrey Rublev this season – also pushing Novak Djokovic to four sets at the Australian Open – and stormed through the qualifying draw without dropping a set.
At 48th in the world, Popyrin came into this match ranked 81 spots above his opponent – but then Murray is also no ordinary world No 129.
After failing to break serve since the Miami Open, he did so just when he needed to – aiding his march towards the opening set.
A despondent air of familiarity circled around the raucous Centre Court crowd when Murray struggled in set two, pegged back by a hard-hitting Popyrin.
But after being forced into a decider, Murray was back on top right at the start of the third set and, despite one or two hairy moments, never really looked back on his way to a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 triumph.
“It was not the best match I have played here, but, you know, I took my chances when they came. I was clinical when the opportunities were there,” he commented.
“I obviously lost a bit of momentum at the end of the first set, beginning of the second. Then [I] played pretty well in the important moments in the third set, because there were a few tight moments on my service game, and I missed a few balls leading into those close moments.
“I timed my serve well, and a few times hit the ball better from the back of the court. So, yeah, I did well to get through.”
Murray is revered wherever he plays but no more so on home soil in the UK, where he has been roared on to two victories at Wimbledon, alongside his five triumphs here.
Queen’s is by far and away the most successful tournament of Murray’s career, and it is fair to say the crowd gave him the reception he has earned throughout this contest.
He added: “They always get amazing crowds here in terms of, for Tuesday afternoon, you know, it’s brilliant.
“I don’t know how big the stadium is. It’s obviously gotten bigger over the last few years from when I started playing here, but it was pretty amazing, the turnout they get every single year.
“It was brilliant. Yeah, a brilliant crowd. I tried to engage them as much as I could.
“I have always enjoyed that and create a bit more of an atmosphere on the court and tried to do that today, and the crowd supported really well.”
Murray will look to create such an atmosphere again on Wednesday when he steps onto court against Jordan Thompson in his round two clash.
Another Australian, Thompson is an opponent Murray knows well on this surface.
He fell to Thompson – who beat Holger Rune in round one this year – in the opening round of this very event in 2017, but then got a slice of revenge in Surbiton twelve months ago.
A quick turnaround will be tough for Murray to handle but, with momentum and a home crowd behind him, he might extend his potential Queen’s last dance a little while longer.