Murray relishes prospect of defending his Olympic gold
WINNING an Olympic gold medal at Wi m b l e d o n four years ago was a career highlight for Andy Murray, who is relishing the prospect of defending his title in Rio later this summer. The world No 2 has been named in a fourstrong British team for the Games alongside his brother, Jamie, Johanna Konta and Heather Watson.
“Being a home Olympic Games was a special occasion and the atmosphere at Wimbledon was like nothing I have experienced,” Murray said in recalling his 2012 triumph. “Winning medals for your country is as good as it gets, and I can’t wait to get to Rio to try and win more.”
Britain has won more Olympic tennis medals (44) than any other nation, though Murray’s gold was the first the country had won in men’s singles for 104 years. The 29-yearold Scot, who said at the recent French Open that he would seek medical advice over the Zika virus before confirming his participation in Rio, would be attempting to become the first man to retain the Olympic singles title since the sport returned to the Games in 1988.
Murray’s victory over Roger Federer in the 2012 Olympic final came less than a month after he had lost to the Swiss in the Wimbledon final. The experience stood him in good stead the following summer, when he beat Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final to end Britain’s 77-year wait for a male singles champion at the All England Club. Federer and Djokovic were No 1 and No 2 in the world when Murray beat them at the 2012 Games.
Andy and Jamie Murray will be among the favourites in the doubles in Rio. The brothers have been the backbone of Britain’s Davis Cup team in the last two years, though they did not enjoy much success together in their two previ- ous Olympic appearances. At Beijing in 2008 the Murrays won one round before losing heavily to Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra, while in London four years ago they fell at the first hurdle to Jurgen Melzer and Alexander Peya.
The Murrays are unbeaten in Davis Cup competition, having won all five rubbers they have played. Their wins in last year’s quarters, semis and final were vital to Britain’s first Davis Cup triumph for 79 years.
It remains to be seen who will represent Britain in the mixed doubles, in which Andy Murray and Laura Robson won silver in 2012. Robson will not be in Rio because her world ranking at No 308 is too low. The former Wimbledon junior champion has struggled to recover her form following wrist surgery and has split with her coach, Mauricio Hadad, following the French Open. Murray and Watson played mixed doubles together at the Hopman Cup team event in Perth in 2015 and 2016. They won two of their three matches together on both occasions.
Konta, who broke into the world’s top 20 for the first time this week, will be making her Olympic debut, while Watson will be playing in her second Games. The 24-year-old from Guernsey won one match in London before going out to Maria Kirilenko. In doubles in 2012 Watson and Robson lost to Germany’s Angelique Kerber and Sabine Lisicki in the first round. Konta and Watson have played four doubles matches together this year, but have won only one of them.
Stan Wawrinka, who won doubles gold with Federer in 2008, has become the latest player to recruit a former Wimbledon champion to his entourage. Richard Krajicek, who won the All England Club title 20 years ago, is to work with Wawrinka during the grass-court season alongside the world No 4’s regular coaches, Magnus Norman and Yannick Fattebert. – The Independent