Murray throws doubt on Olympics appearance despite official Team GB selection | Tennis | Sport
Andy Murray has revealed he is still not “100% sure” to play in the Olympics despite being named in the GB team on Sunday.
The double gold medallist has been handed a wildcard to play in the singles for a record fifth time. And the Scot, who appeared at Queen’s Club in his red GB tracksuit, and Dan Evans have also been nominated as a second British doubles pairing in Paris. The ITF will give a decision by June 25.
Murray, 37, will play doubles with Evans at the Cinch Championships this week before playing Wimbledon with his brother Jamie.
And that could yet be his farewell appearance if he decides against going back to Roland Garros and playing the Olympics.
Asked if he would play the singles if he is not also in the doubles, Murray said: “I’m not 100% sure. It depends a little bit physically how I’m doing and a bit how the next few weeks go as well. But my plan just now is to play but it’s not straightforward.
“Obviously I’ve really enjoyed playing the Olympics over the years and the chance to play in another one, I’m excited about that. Obviously find out in the next 10 days or so on the doubles what’s going to happen though but hopefully me and Evo get the chance to play.”
Murray is in the squad along with new British No.1 Jack Draper, Cam Norrie and Dan Evans and doubles specialists Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski.
The world No.97, had cast doubt on playing in Paris after losing in the first round in Stuttgart last week.
“Physically I’d been struggling,” he said.
“Over the clay season I was struggling a lot with my back and couldn’t really serve properly and preparations were difficult. So I wasn’t sure whether or not I was definitely going to play. I had an operation on my back in 2013. And even before then, clay was the surface that gave me the most problems for my back.
“Some of it comes from some of the issues I had with my right hip because I lacked movement and rotation in my right hip then my left lower back would have to make up for that. It would take a bit of the stress and strain.”
“On the clay courts, balls generally are bouncing much higher and the issue that I had with my back was extension and rotation. My back’s been pretty good since moving on to the grass.”
Five-time champion Murray will play his first round match against a qualifier – and would then face the winner of No.7 seed Holger Rune and Aussie Jordan Thompson in the second round if he gets through.