The British men’s number one, currently ranked fourth in the world, will be participating in his second Olympic Games after making his Team GB debut in Beijing four years ago, when he played in both the men’s singles and doubles events.
Murray, 25, has won 22 ATP singles titles to date and is coached by Ivan Lendl. The Dunblane born player will compete in the men’s singles event which begins on 28th July on the world famous grass courts of The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon. The final takes place on 5th August.
Team GB top the all-time Olympic tennis medals table, having accumulated 16 gold, 13 silver and 16 bronze medals between 1896 and 1924. The sport did not feature on the Olympic Programme for the next 64 years, but Tim Henman and Neil Broad returned Team GB to the podium with a men’s doubles silver medal at the Atlanta 1996 Games.
With 36 days to go until the Opening Ceremony, the addition of Murray brings the total number of athletes officially selected to compete for Team GB at London 2012 to 248 across 23 sport disciplines: archery, athletics – marathon, badminton, boxing, canoe slalom, canoe sprint, cycling, diving, equestrian -eventing, fencing, hockey, modern pentathlon, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, synchronised swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling.
The athlete was formally nominated to the BOA for selection to Team GB by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the National Governing Body for tennis in Great Britain. Wild cards for the Olympic tennis event will be awarded by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and announced on 28th June.
Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Andy Murray as the first tennis player selected to Team GB for the London 2012 Olympics. Andy has thrilled British tennis fans with his outstanding performances for many years now and I’m sure there will be an electrifying atmosphere supporting him during the Olympic tennis competition at Wimbledon this summer.
“Great Britain has a proud Olympic history in tennis and everyone at the BOA will be giving Andy our full support – as a member of Our Greatest Team – to ensure he has the opportunity to perform to the very best of his ability at the Olympic Games in London.”
Andy Murray said:“I can't wait for the Olympics to start, it's such an incredible event and for it to be in London is extra special. I remember being part of the Olympic Ceremony in Beijing, which was an unbelievable atmosphere and like nothing I'd experienced before. Winning a medal this summer for Team GB is one of my major goals.”
Team GB Tennis Team Leader Paul Hutchins said: “I’m delighted for Andy that he has been selected to Team GB for his second Olympic Games. To compete for Great Britain in an Olympic Games at one of the most iconic sporting venues in the world will be a huge honour, but to do that at a home Olympics represents a once in a lifetime opportunity that none of our British athletes will ever forget.
“After Wimbledon, we will have just over a fortnight to finalise our preparations, and then come Games time, the tennis team will be ready and fully prepared to compete on the world’s greatest sporting stage.”
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