Two-time Olympic champion Andy Murray will be competing in the Tokyo Olympics set to be held later this year.
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Two-time Olympic champion Andy Murray will be competing in the Tokyo Olympics later this year. Murray, who has twice won singles gold, will take part in both singles and doubles competitions. Him being part of the squad is a big deal, mainly due to his recent fitness struggles. It also means the Games won’t be missing out on another top star of the game. In recent times Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem and Denis Shapovalov have all pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics.
However, Andy Murray said he was excited about being able to compete in his fourth Games.
“The Olympics means a huge amount to me, it’s a massive honour to be able to compete at a fourth Games.” said the 34-year-old.
“Leading Team GB out at the opening ceremony five years ago in Rio was one of the highlights of my career. Going to a second Olympics as defending champion is exciting and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Murray began his Olympic career in 2008. However, he was beaten in straight sets by Taiwan’s Lu Yen-hsun at the Beijing Games.
He claimed his first Olympic gold medal in 2012 in London by beating Roger Federer. Incidentally, this win came mere weeks after losing to the Swiss star in the Wimbledon final.
Murray followed that up by beating Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro to win gold at the Olympics in Rio in 2016. But his career has been plagued by injuries over the last three years.
The Scot is ranked 119 in the world and has received a wildcard for Wimbledon, which starts on Monday. Despite Murray’s ranking, Olympic rules allow him a route to the Games via a quota place.
This quota reserves places for Olympic gold medallists or Grand Slam champions from each participating nation.
Neal Skupski, who will make his Olympic debut alongside Evans and Salisbury, completes the men’s squad. Doubles specialist and Andy’s brother, Jamie Murray misses out.
Heather Watson, playing in her third Games, and Johanna Konta will compete in the women’s singles and doubles events.
However, the British team will also be missing some top players. Besides Jamie Murray, Cameron Norrie has decided not to compete in Tokyo.
Norrie will be seeded in Wimbledon for the first time this year. However, his interest as of now is to climb up the rankings.
“While I wish I could compete in the Olympics and represent Great Britain, considering how the pandemic devastated the tennis calendar and created limited opportunities for players to move up the rankings, my team and I feel it is best for me to not partake in this year’s Olympics,” Norrie wrote on social media.
“It is important that I can continue to prepare and focus for the tournaments leading up to the US Open, the US Open itself and all subsequent events after as they are big opportunities to move up the ranks and keep momentum.”
The Tokyo Games get underway on July 23 and end on August 8.
