ANDY Murray and partner Joe Salisbury have made it through to the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles in the Tokyo Olympics.
The Team GB pair beat Germany’s Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 6-2 7-6 (7-2). They will now either take on the US duo Frances Tiafoe and Rajeev Ram or Crotian team Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig in the quarter-finals.
Murray will be hoping to secure his fourth Olympic medal in the doubles – no man has achieved this in the sport since it returned to the Olympics more than 30 years ago.
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The Scot had been set to play in the singles as well as the doubles, but was advised to withdraw from the latter following a minor thigh strain. He explained that he’d promised Salisbury to prioritise their matches if he suffered any physical issues.
"I'd have been annoyed with myself if I'd decided to play with the issue, made it worse, lost my singles and not been able to perform well in the doubles,” he told reporters.
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Liam Broady is now Team GB’s last remaining hope in the men’s single event. He will play Wimbledon semi-finalist Hubert Hurkacz later today.
Elsewhere in tennis Naomi Osaka lost to Marketa Vondrousova leading to a surprise exit from the Games for the 23-year-old, who lit the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony last week.
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