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TWO-time defending champion Andy Murray has been selected for Great Britain’s tennis team at the Tokyo Olympics.
Murray, 34, will play in the men’s singles alongside Dan Evans and team up with Joe Salisbury in the doubles.
There is no place for doubles specialist Jamie Murray in Team GB while Heather Watson and Johanna Konta will compete in the women’s singles.
The games, postponed in 2020 because of the pandemic, take place in Japan’s capital from 23 July to 8 August.
Andy Murray has been finding his way at the top level after hip and groin injuries and the two-time Wimbledon champion is set to play a singles game at the All England Club next week for the first time since 2017.
The former world number one, now ranked 119, is the only tennis player to win singles gold at consecutive Olympics.
At London 2012 the Scot also won silver in the mixed doubles alongside Laura Robson.
“The Olympics mean a huge amount to me, it’s a massive honour to be able to compete at a fourth games,” he said.
“Leading Team GB out at the opening ceremony five years ago in Rio was one of the highlights of my career.”
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Evans, 31, is Britain’s number one ranked men’s player at 26 and achieved his highest ATP ranking to qualify for Tokyo.
Who will represent Team GB in the Olympics?
Men’s singles: Dan Evans, Andy Murray
Women’s singles: Johanna Konta, Heather Watson
Men’s doubles: Dan Evans and Neal Skupski, Joe Salisbury and Andy Murray
Women’s doubles: Johanna Konta and Heather Watson
Mixed doubles: To be confirmed once ranking cut off known
Analysis
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller
Andy Murray has received the place reserved for an Olympic or Grand Slam champion, as his ranking would otherwise have been too low to qualify.
But there is no place for his older brother Jamie. Dan Evans and Neal Skupski have been preferred as the second doubles team because of their success on tour this year. They reached back-to-back Masters series finals in Miami and Monte Carlo.
There was a twist in the singles, too.
Evans, who had been open about the fact he would probably skip the Olympics once again, has had a late change of heart.
And Cameron Norrie, who had indicated he was keen to make the trip to Tokyo, has opted to play on the ATP Tour with August’s US Open very much in mind.
BBC Sport
– June 25, 2021 @ 09:20 GMT|
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