The choice of Murray to be the flag-bearer was hailed by his long-time rival and world number one Novak Djokovic who performed the same duty for Serbia at the London Olympics in 2012.
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“It was unfortunate with Roger [Federer] and Stan [Wawrinka], they are two guys who are great players and capable of winning events like this”, Murray said after his first practice session at the Olympic Tennis Centre in Rio on Tuesday.
Andy Murray labelled being named Great Britain’s flag bearer at the Olympics as the “proudest moment” of his career.
Tennis Team Leader Iain Bates added: “Being the Flagbearer for your country at the Olympics is an incredible honour and I am absolutely thrilled for Andy”.
“It has a big, sharp point on top of it and she said something like “make sure you don’t poke my eye out”. I’m just trying to treat it as any other tournament and trying to prepare as best I can”, he said.
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.
But on Wednesday evening, during a team ceremony held at British House in Rio, his first experience of carrying the flag ended in haphazard fashion as he almost planted the flag smack bang into the head of Princess Anne.
With Djokovic also in the field here, Murray is the No. 2 seed and it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if they played for the gold medal, just as they did earlier this year in the Australian and French Open finals (both won by Djokovic). Murray observed, ‘I don’t think it’s too bad at this time of year.
She said: “Everyone can see from the way that he approaches the Davis Cup”.
Flag bearer nominations were made by the respective national sports federations before the final selection was made.
“I hope to do the team proud on Friday and wish all of the British athletes the best of luck for the Games ahead”.
Tennis star Murray, the defending Olympic champion, will lead out the British team in what he describes as one of the proudest moments of his career.
Veteran long-distance runner Jo Pavey was also thought of as a leading candidate by many as she prepares to embark on her fifth Olympic Games aged 42, while show jumper Nick Skelton, 58, was believed to be under consideration, too.
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Andy Murray himself won silver alongside Laura Robson in the mixed doubles four years ago, while Tim Henman and Neil Broad won silver in the men’s doubles in 1996.
