Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Andy Murray on latest ambitions to feature - 'I would want to be there by right'

ByAlasdair Mackenzie

Published 18/03/2024 at 12:21 GMT

With questions continuing to come about when he will call time on his career, Andy Murray has said he would "love to play at the Olympics" in Paris this summer. However, the two-time gold medallist only wants to go if he feels he can medal and provided he has earned a spot over his fellow Brits. Murray also admitted it "is not an easy decision" to decide when to quit tennis.

Andy Murray says he “would love the chance to play in another Olympics” before retiring, but only if he feels capable of medalling - and earns a Team GB spot on merit.

After months of speculation about when he might call time on his career, Murray said in February that he is “likely not going to play past this summer”.

That end date would still leave time for the three-time major champion to compete at the French Open, Wimbledon and the Paris Games – were he to be called up for the latter.

ATP Rome

Are Nadal, Alcaraz, Djokovic playing Italian Open? When does it start?

7 hours ago

Murray is a two-time Olympic gold medallist in the men’s singles, beating Roger Federer in the final at London 2012 before ousting Juan Martin del Potro four years later in Rio.

But the 36-year-old has endured a difficult 2024 season, winning just three of his 11 matches and slipping to No. 62 in the ATP rankings, and he told The Times that his retirement plans remain undecided.

“I would love the chance to play in another Olympics, but also genuinely only if I felt like there was a chance of winning a medal,” Murray said.

'He's such a warrior' - Medvedev says he will be sad when 'inspiration' Murray retires from tennis

“I’m also very conscious that because of how amazing my experiences at the Olympics have been, I would want to be there by right and not just take one of the other guys’ spots, because it is a brilliant opportunity.

“We have top doubles players and also Jack (Draper), Cam (Norrie) and Evo (Dan Evans) in singles as well.”

Murray’s rank of 62 is below Norrie (31), Draper (42) and Evans (43), while Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski are ranked 6th and 11th respectively for doubles.

The Scot played alongside Salisbury in the doubles at Tokyo 2020, reaching the quarter-finals.

• 'This means a lot' - Alcaraz defends Indian Wells title with victory over Medvedev
• Osaka grateful to 'super friendly' Murray for 'always checking' on her
• Murray: We need to be careful of the way we speak to officials

But he has only played one Tour-level doubles match this season, losing in the first round of the Brisbane Open alongside Holger Rune.

“When I played with Joe, I had the conversation beforehand with him that my feeling was there was a greater chance of me winning a medal in doubles than singles,” Murray explained.

Murray has long had to field questions about when he will retire and admitted he was “bored” of the topic and remains unsure about the answer.

“It’s been happening since Wimbledon last year in most weeks. It’s something that I’ve had to talk about and entertain,” he said.

“Obviously at some stage the end will come. It’s not an easy decision to know exactly when that will be or when it should be.”

Murray was most recently in action at Indian Wells, where he defeated David Goffin in the first round before bowing out to fifth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets.

- - -

Stream top tennis action, including the 2024 French Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

Roland-Garros

French Open hint? Murray training on clay ahead of potential Grand Slam return

29/04/2024 at 20:33

Tennis

Murray steps up rehab with return to court in Wimbledon fitness race

19/04/2024 at 13:06

Tennis

Murray will not have surgery on ankle injury, return date unknown

15/04/2024 at 20:14