Andy Murray and Jonny Marray won a thrilling doubles clash against Gael Monfils and Juan Monaco in front of packed crowds at Indian Wells.
After fans queued around the grounds to watch Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka play together on Friday afternoon, it was standing room only for Murray and Marray's first competitive match together.
The pairing of two Wimbledon champions against flamboyant Frenchman Monfils and Argentinian Monaco always looked like a crowd pleaser and it did not disappoint.
The British duo took the opening set before Monfils and Monaco levelled but it was in the deciding match tie-break that it really came alive.
Having led 6-3, Murray and Marray were pegged back to 8-8 but took their second match point to win 6-4 4-6 11-9 after a rally that left Monfils on the floor as he tried in vain to keep the match alive.
Murray begins his singles campaign on Saturday against Czech Lukas Rosol.
There was also victory for British doubles number one Dominic Inglot and Filipino partner Treat Huey, who beat Italians Fabio Fognini and Andreas Seppi 4-6 7-5 10-6.
It was doubly significant for Inglot given Fognini and Seppi will carry Italy's hopes in singles when they meet Britain in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in Naples next month and could be the doubles pair as well.
Inglot partnered Colin Fleming in the doubles rubber when Britain beat the USA in the first round of the World Group last month.
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