“I’m very sad, but medical staff have advised me against playing in both events” Andy Murray pulls out of Olympic singles to focus on men’s doubles

Two-time defending Olympic men’s singles champion Andy Murray has pulled out of the men’s singles event due to a thigh strain. Murray was scheduled to play ninth seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime in the first round of the men’s singles draw on Sunday. The Brit was replaced by Australian Max Purcell in the singles draw.

34-year-old Murray, who has come back from two hip surgeries over the past few years, was in action on the opening day at the Tokyo Olympics as he partnered with Joe Salisbury to upset the second seeds Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert in straight sets.

In a statement, Murray stated, “I’m very sad, but the medical staff have advised me against playing in both events, so I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the singles and focus on playing doubles with Joe.”

Purcell, ranked No 190 in the world in singles, is in the men’s doubles draw and since only player on-site can enter the singles event when there is a withdrawal, he made it as Murray’s replacement despite his ranking of No 190. The Australian took full advantage of his opportunity, as he stunned Auger-Aliassime in straight sets.

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