Hopefully, I don’t get too many mosquito bites, but I don’t think it’s too bad at this time of the year.
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The 29-year-old said he would make sure his performance was unaffected by carrying the flag.
Andy Murrah nearly jabbed Princess Anne’s face with the flag. Murray, however, isn’t anxious at all – he said his doctor told him he’d be fine, and that his wife Kim wasn’t going to Brazil not because of Zika fears, but because she was never planning to in the first place.
“I didn’t know what to do”.
“The flag is huge and as soon as I tipped it, it was covering someone’s face”.
“Last night didn’t go so well but I can see the amusing side of it now and I’ll try to get a bit of practice in before tomorrow night”.
Djokovic told reporters he was looking forward to the “experience of a lifetime” at the Athletes’ Village in Rio’s west.
When Murray was asked about the Princess’s reaction, the tennis player replied that the Princess hoped Murray would not poke her eyes out.
Decorated cyclist Sir Chris Hoy carried the flag for Team GB at London 2012 and swimmer Mark Foster was given the honour in Beijing after judoka Kate Howey led the way in Athens.
Hoy challenged Murray on Twitter to emulate him by shunning a holster and holding it in one hand.
Murray, however, said the competition would still be fierce. “I can’t wait, it’s going to be an wonderful night”. I’ll obviously do it with my left hand.
“There’s a lot of places that are a little bit dodgy, like in Miami as well”.
“It is my first time coming to Brazil and I am very excited to be here”.
Third seed Rafael Nadal, who only recently confirmed he would play after struggling with a wrist injury, will face Argentinian Federico Delbonis in his opener, while Japan’s Kei Nishikori starts against Albert Ramos of Spain.
Murray has travelled to the Rio Olympics without his family but insisted fear of the Zika virus was not the reason for his wife’s absence.
He is scheduled to play his opening singles and doubles matches Sunday. “I’ll have to try and get more practice in before tomorrow”.
“On Saturday I will rest during the day”.
“I will have a plan to ensure that it has not impact on performance”.
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“So it’s going to help me over the next nine or 10 days”.
