The reigning Olympic Singles Champion spoke in a press conference just the day before the ceremony and blamed the photographers for what happened in the pre-opening ceremony.
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This time his path looks significantly less daunting, with Spain’s David Ferrer his potential quarter-final opponent while he is seeded to meet Kei Nishikori in the last four. Way to play the patriotism card, Murray.
Novak Djokovic will face 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in the first round of the Olympics in a rematch of the 2012 bronze medal match. “He likes the hard court”.
But Murray’s form at Wimbledon was strong, as he rolled to the title with only one tough match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals.
The top-ranked Serena Williams, who like Murray is coming off a triumph at the All England Club, headlines the women’s draw.
Konta and Watson are teaming up in the women’s doubles and take on Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic and Aleksandra Krunic in round one.
Murray clinched gold in the men’s singles at London 2012, defeating multiple Grand Slam victor Roger Federer in the final, and the British number one arrives in Brazil full of confidence.
Andy Murray has said being Great Britain’s flag bearer for Friday’s Olympic opening ceremony will be the “number one” moment of his career.
It’s by far the proudest moment of my professional career.
Murray also has high hopes of success in the doubles with brother Jamie and the second seeds will play Brazilians Thomaz Bellucci and Andre Sa in the opening round.
“For me, the Olympics is the biggest sporting event in the world by far, and I’m proud to represent my country”. “Expect them to perform well”.
Before injury forced him out of the Olympics, world number three Roger Federer had said that he was intending to stay in a hotel rather than with the Swiss team.
Age and injury have taken a toll on Nadal and Federer, and it is now only Djokovic who would be expected to match the phenomenally fit Murray over the gruelling five-set format in grand slams.
“Winning a medal is extremely hard but to do it with your brother it would be very, very, special”, Murray said.
“Everyone views things differently”.
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“I will be incredibly proud to hear him address the team and I have no doubt he will inspire our athletes and the nation alike”.
