Tokyo Olympics: Defending champion Andy Murray withdraws, World No1. women player Ash Barty defeated- Two-time gold champion Andy Murray has pulled out of the Tokyo Games men’s singles after a thigh strain.
Murray was defending his Olympic gold medal but the British player decided to pull out in order to manage his workload. Andy Murray, who won Gold at the 2012 London Games and Rio Olympics was scheduled to begin his title defense against Canada’s Felix Auger Aliassime.
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Tokyo Olympics: Defending champion Andy Murray withdraws, World No1. women player Ash Barty defeated
However, he will continue to compete for Team GB in the men’s doubles tournament with Joe Salisbury.
The decision follows consultation with medical staff in relation to a quad strain.
“I am really disappointed at having to withdraw but the medical staff have advised me against playing in both events,” a statement from Murray read.
“I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the singles and focus on playing doubles with Joe,” it added.
Tokyo Olympics: Defending champion Andy Murray withdraws, World No1. women player Ash Barty defeated
Meanwhile, World No.1 and Wimbledon champion Ash Barty has lost her opening round match to Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain. World No 48 Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain beat Barty in straight sets. The match finished 6-4, 6-3 in favor of the Spaniard. It lasted for an hour and 34 minutes.
Sorribes came out all guns blazing in the first set and Barty had no answers to what was being thrown at her, and in the end, she took the first set 6-4. Carrying on with her momentum, Sorribes kept on her charge in the second set, winning it 6-3, and as a result, she wrapped up the match in straight sets.
Earlier on Sunday, India’s women’s tennis duo of Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina suffered a very disappointing defeat in the first round of the Tokyo Olympics in the doubles event here at Ariake Tennis Court 11.
The Ukrainian team of Lyudmyla Viktorivna Kichenok and Nadiia Viktorivna Kichenok knocked out the Indian pair 6-0, 7-6, 10-8 in one hour and 33 minutes.
Earlier on Saturday, Sumit Nagal progressed to the second round of the men’s singles. He outclassed Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 to book a clash with World Number 2 Daniil Medvedev.
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(with ANI inputs)
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