Andy Murray endured a two-hour 38 minutes battle to overcome Roman Safiullin and clock up his 26th win of 2022.
The triumph means the Scot now has his most wins in a season since he finished year-end World No. 1 in 2016 - when he recorded an astonishing 78 match wins.
Murray had to come from a set down and then a break down in the decider against his Russian opponent at the Swiss Indoors Basel, as he fought against a stubborn opponent.
But the win is another milestone for Murray as the 35-year-old perseveres with trying to fight his way back to the top of the sport.
The World No. 49 has now spent 11 hours and 23 minutes on court in his past five matches, with four of the five going to a deciding set.
Murray, who was making his first appearance in Basel since 2005, will next play sixth seed Roberto Bautista Agut or Serbian qualifier Laslo Djere.
The Brit - a keen football fan - recently used his arrival in Switzerland to have a bit of fun with great friend and former rival Roger Federer.
When asked how he was finding the country, Murray told Swiss media outlet Watson News: "As soon as I arrived in Basel, I messaged Roger Federer:
'Hey Roger, I just landed in the city of one of the greatest athletes of all time... Granit Xhaka.'"
The hometown favourite Federer, who was rumoured to get a send-off in Basel, had to decline such an invitation because he was still feeling the emotion from the Laver Cup goodbye.
Murray meanwhile, is looking for his first ATP Title since the 2019 European Open in Antwerp as he looks to his 2023 season.
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