Sir Andy Murray’s upcoming Olympic campaign promises to be emotional, one way or the other.
The Brit recently announced that the Paris Games will be his final tournament before he retires from tennis, and the summer event is certainly one which has moved him in the past.
At the 2016 Rio Games, Murray made history when he became the first player to successfully defend an Olympics singles title, having won gold four years previously on home turf at London 2012.
The Scot beat Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro to glory in a brutal four-set battle which lasted four hours and two minutes, winning 7-5 4-6 6-2 7-5.
And Murray was visibly overwhelmed immediately after sealing match point, his eyes welling up as the enormity of his achievement sunk in.
After sharing a long hug with his opponent at the net, the three-time Grand Slam champion was unable to hold back the tears as he went on to salute the crowd.
He remained visibly moved when he stepped onto the podium to receive his second Olympic gold medal, which made him the only male singles player in history to complete the feat.
Speaking after the match, Murray admitted that several factors had contributed to the victory being such an emotional one, having been selected as Team GB’s flag bearer at the Games’ opening ceremony.
He reflected on the success: “It means a lot, getting to carry the flag at the opening ceremony was an amazing experience and I was very honoured. I found that quite emotional.
“I had to regroup and get my mind on the matches so, to finish it with a match like that, obviously I was fairly emotional at the end.
