“I’ve taken the decision to withdraw from the singles to concentrate on the doubles with Dan. Our practice has been great, and we’re playing well together. Really looking forward to getting started and representing GB one more time,” Mr. Murray said on July 25.
“Obviously, I and Dan have made the commitment to each other that [doubles] was what we were going to prioritize,” he said.
Mr. Murray also said that he had mostly been practicing for the doubles format and was still having some minor back issues, which resulted from an operation to remove a spinal cyst last month.
“I think Dan is still going to play singles, but last week he did a lot of doubles practice. That’s what I was predominantly practicing in training when I was in Greece, and since we’ve been here, we’ve been practicing and playing doubles sets together.
“That gives the team and us the best opportunity to get a medal, realistically. My back is still not perfect and the potential of playing two matches in a day is maybe not the best,” Mr. Murray told Sky Sports.
They will face Japan’s Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori in the first round on the clay courts at Roland Garros.
The 37-year-old said earlier this week that he will retire from professional tennis upon the conclusion of the Paris Olympics. He cited years of health issues resulting from injuries as the reason for his decision. Mr. Murray underwent a hip replacement in 2019.
The tennis legend has previously seen major successes in both singles and doubles tournaments. He secured his first singles gold medal in 2012 in London before claiming a silver medal in mixed doubles partnering Laura Robson.
Mr. Murray then went on to win his second singles gold medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, making him the only tennis player to win two.
He has won three major titles, his first at the U.S. Open in 2012, before winning Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016. He reached the French Open final in 2016 but lost to Novak Djokovic.
