Tokyo 2020 - Andy Murray withdraws from singles tennis competition, but will play on in doubles

ByEurosport

Updated 25/07/2021 at 03:35 GMT

Andy Murray has withdrawn from the men's singles competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to a quad strain but he will carry on playing in the doubles alongside his partner Joe Salisbury. Murray and Salisbury play German pair Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in the men's doubles second round on Monday.

Two-time Olympic champion Andy Murray has pulled out of the men's singles competition at the Tokyo Olympics.

The Scot, who won gold at London 2012 and won his opening doubles match with Joe Salisbury on Saturday, was due to face Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in his opening singles match on Sunday.

But his place on the schedule has been taken by Australia's Max Purcell.

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The reason for the 34-year-old's singles withdrawal is due to a quad strain, but he has confirmed he will play on in the doubles.

"I'm very sad, but the medical staff have advised me against playing in both events," Murray said.

I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the singles and focus on playing doubles with Joe.

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On Saturday, Murray produced a superb performance alongside Salisbury in the men’s doubles as the pair knocked out second seeds and recently-crowned French Open champions Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

"I think we have the potential to be a really good team, I think the result today showed that," Murray said after that match.

"Doubles is always tricky because sometimes the matches come down to a few points and I think we were well-deserved winners today, we created a fair few chances. But not every doubles match is like that.

“I think if we keep the same attitude and prepare diligently, we have a chance of doing well.

"It is not easy, we have a tough match up next against a German pair [Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz] and we’re looking forward to that one."

Britain's Murray and Salisbury fired up after tweener wins big point

Murray is bidding to become the first man to win four Olympic medals since tennis returned to the Games in 1988.

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