Taro Daniel & Kei Nishikori v Dan Evans & Andy Murray: Prediction, Tips and Odds

All eyes will be on Andy Murray when he and Dan Evans face Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori in their opening match of the men's doubles at the Olympics in Paris on Sunday.

Murray, who is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the men's singles, confirmed earlier this week that he would be retiring following the conclusion of this summer's Games.

The three-time Grand Slam champion initially intended to play in the singles as well, but he has since withdrawn from that competition, meaning all his focus will be on the doubles alongside fellow Brit Evans.

Taro Daniel & Kei Nishikori v Dan Evans & Andy Murray betting tips and predictions

Dan Evans & Andy Murray to win 2-1 - 11/4

It is not often that a first-round match in the men's doubles receives so much attention, but following Murray's announcement that he plans to retire after the Olympics, there will be more eyes than normal on this contest.

Given Murray's next defeat will signal the end of his career, there will be plenty of pressure on the 37-year-old and playing partner Evans heading into Sunday's contest, but considering they are an unseeded pairing, the draw has been relatively kind.

The Brits will be facing Japanese pair Daniel and Nishikori, who only made it into the first-round as alternates and have a relative lack of experience playing doubles.

Nishikori, a former world number four and US Open finalist in the singles, did reach the quarter-finals of the men's doubles at the last Olympics alongside Ben McLachlan, but he has struggled with form and fitness since then.

Daniel is ranked number 90 in the world and has enjoyed a notable career on the singles circuit, but he has won only two of his previous 22 matches in doubles.

That should give Evans and Murray confidence and the latter, of course, has a great affinity with the Olympics having twice claimed gold in the men's singles in 2012 and 2016, while he also won a silver medal alongside Laura Robson in the mixed doubles in London.

However, there are also doubts surrounding the form and fitness of both British players, with Murray struggling with the back issue that marred his Wimbledon farewell, while Evans has been managing his training due to a knee injury he sustained at Queen's.

With fitness and/or form concerns surrounding all four of these players, it is difficult to envisage either pair winning this match in straight sets, but Evans and Murray should have enough to come through in three.

While the duo have no real experience of playing alongside each other in doubles, they have both enjoyed success in the format across the course of their careers and have played almost 200 more combined doubles matches than Daniel and Nishikori.

With the added incentive of prolonging Murray's career by at least another match, the British pair should come through in three sets and progress to the second round, where they will face either the eighth seeds Arthur Fils and Ugo Humbert from France or Belgian pair Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen.

First Evans & Murray service game winners - Daniel & Nishikori - 5/1

While Evans and Murray will expect to have too much for Daniel and Nishikori overall, their fitness concerns and lack of recent playing time, coupled with it being Murray’s final tournament, could lead to them making a nervy start.

That could open the door for the Japanese pair to secure an early advantage and the 5/1 about them breaking in the first Evans or Murray service game offers plenty of appeal.

Nishikori, in particular, has a reputation for being a strong returner of serve, winning 27% of the return games he has played over the course of his singles career and, if there is any early anxiety shown by the Brits, he and Daniel could be ready to exploit it.

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Taro Daniel & Kei Nishikori v Dan Evans & Andy Murray odds

Taro Daniel & Kei Nishikori - 13/8
Dan Evans & Andy Murray - 4/9

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.