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Defending Olympic champion
Andy Murray has withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympics singles competition due to a right quad strain, but remains in doubles, Tokyo 2020 organizers announced.
Murray, who represents Great Britain, was scheduled to play Canada’s
Felix Auger-Aliassime on Sunday, but he was replaced by Australia’s
Max Purcell. Joe Salisbury, who were unseeded, upset the No. 2-seeded French Team of
Pierre-Hugues Herbert and
Nicolas Mahut in a straight sets victory.
“I am really disappointed at having to withdraw but the medical staff have advised me against playing in both events, so I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the singles and focus on playing doubles with Joe,” Murray said in a statement.
Andy Murray pulls out of Tokyo Olympics singles to concentrate on doubles campaign
Medical staff advised Murray not to play in both disciplines in order to preserve his body
25 July 2021 • 4:28am
Andy Murray in action in his doubles match
Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Having battled so many injuries in recent years, Andy Murray’s body let him down yet again on Sunday when a thigh strain forced him to withdraw from his Olympics first-round singles match just hours before he was due to go on court, ending his quest for a third successive men’s singles gold.
Murray had shown no signs of injury when teaming up with Joe Salisbury to secure a brilliant men’s doubles first-round victory over five-time Grand Slam doubles winners Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut on the opening day of tennis action in Tokyo less than 24 hours earlier.
Andy Murray forced to withdraw from men’s singles in Tokyo due to thigh strain
Andy Murray, left, with focus on playing doubles with Joe Salisbury (Seth Wenig/AP)
Andy Murray’s bid for a third straight Olympic singles gold medal ended before it began when he withdrew ahead of his first match with a minor thigh strain.
The Scot had been due to take on ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada on Sunday but was replaced on the order of play by Australian Max Purcell.
Murray had been upbeat about his prospects after an excellent doubles victory with Joe Salisbury on Saturday but experienced tightness in his quad muscle and was advised not to try to compete in both events.
Share I am really disappointed at having to withdraw but the medical staff have advised me against playing in both events, Murray said in a statement. I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the singles and focus on playing doubles with Joe.
Murray and doubles partner Joe Salisbury marked themselves out as medal contenders on Saturday with a brilliant first-round performance in the men s doubles at the Ariake Tennis Park.
That may well have played into Murray s thinking with Auger-Aliassime considered a strong favourite against the Brit in the singles.
Murray nursed a quad injury in doubles and medical staff have made him focus on one event