Andy Murray says it is a shame that numerous top players in the men’s game will not play at the Olympic Games.
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In addition to winning individual gold against Switzerland’s Roger Federer at the London 2012 Games, Murray also won a silver medal in the mixed doubles alongside Laura Robson.
Cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins had been the bookies’ tip to carry the flag but the 29-year-old Scot was thrilled to receive the honour.
The professional Scottish player, who won Wimbledon recently, did not do well with the flag in the pre-Olympic event just two days before the opening ceremony.
The Wimbledon victor, who was one of 29 British gold medalists at London 2012, will be the first tennis player to act as flagbearer for Britain at the world’s greatest sporting event.
“I hope to do the team proud on Friday and wish all of the British athletes the best of luck for the Games ahead”.
He spoke of his pride at being put forward for the role, saying: “I am very proud to be selected”. For the Rio Games, the British have set a target of bettering the 48 medals the team won in Beijing, Team GB’s best performance ever in a Olympics on foreign soil.
Murray is ranked second in the world men’s singles rankings, and in 2013 became the first Briton to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title since Fred Perry.
Murray neatly swerved one question, from an Australian reporter, about representing the whole of Great Britain less than two years after Scotland voted against independence in a referendum.
“He is a fantastic athlete at the very top of world sport, but not only that, an athlete that embraces and demonstrates the Olympic values in everything he does, on and off court”.
Despite the brothers feeling that they have somewhat underachieved at the games so far as a pair, Jamie believes that their recent success and more frequent playing time in the Davis Cup will leader to bigger achievements in Rio. “It was an emotional moment for him personally, and for this team”, he added.
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But to replicate his London Olympics triumph Murray will need to find a chink in the armour of Novak Djokovic, the proud Serb who has dominated men’s tennis in recent years and now has his eye on the only major honour to elude him.
