Andy Murray and Dan Evans are preparing for a tough opening doubles clash against Japanese pair Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori in their quest for gold at the Paris Olympics.
The Team GB duo will face former Olympic bronze medallist and US Open finalist Nishikori, with Sir Andy playing his old rival for the first time since the French Open quarter-finals seven years ago.
The draw comes after the Scot announced earlier today that he would not be taking part in the singles tournament, marking the end of his career as a singles player.
The two-time singles gold medalist had entered the 64-man draw which will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
But Sir Andy has now said he will retire to focus on playing doubles with Evans as he is still not fully fit after undergoing back surgery last month.
Sir Andy Murray pictured with his gold medal after beating Swiss Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final, London, 2012
The two-time Wimbledon champion has faced Nishikori, 34, 11 times throughout his career, winning nine times.
The Japanese star has won 12 career titles and an impressive 434 matches, but this still pales in comparison to Sir Andy’s glittering CV of 46 career titles and 739 wins.
The Scot’s biggest match against Nishikori came in the form of a semi-final victory en route to a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Sir Andy first played his old rival in 2011 and won his first three games against him.
His Great Britain teammate Jack Draper will also have to contend with Nishikori’s experience during this summer’s Olympics, having been drawn against the 34-year-old in the first round of the singles.
Meanwhile, Cam Norrie will begin his campaign to win gold for Great Britain against Dutch star Tallon Griekspoor and could be preparing for a second-round clash against Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Evans will play against Moez Echargui of Tunisia.
The draw comes after Sir Andy announced on Tuesday he was ending a hugely successful career by arriving in Paris ahead of his fifth Olympic Games.
Alongside a photo of himself on the podium in Rio, Brazil, in 2016 he wrote: ‘Arrived in Paris for my final @Olympics tennis tournament.
‘Racing for Great Britain has been by far the most memorable week of my career and I’m very proud to be able to do it one last time.’
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Sir Andy became the first man in history to retain his individual gold medal.
This time around, he will form a strong Team GB roster with Evans, Draper and Norrie hoping for a successful campaign that begins this Saturday.
Sir Andy won gold at London 2012 by beating Roger Federer in the final and successfully defended his title four years later by defeating Juan Martin del Potro.
The 37-year-old, who ended a 77-year wait for a British singles champion at Wimbledon in 2013 and won the trophy again in 2016, had previously said he was unlikely to continue his career beyond this year.
The Scottish hero was given an emotional and star-studded farewell earlier this month at Wimbledon, the venue where he won two of his three major titles, following a first-round doubles defeat alongside brother Jamie.
Sir Andy, who underwent surgery on June 22 to remove a spinal cyst that was compressing his nerves and causing him to lose control and strength in his right leg, decided he was not fit enough for the demands of the singles competition at the All England Club.
Her hopes of a major final triumph alongside compatriot and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu in mixed doubles at Wimbledon were dashed when she retired with a wrist problem.
Tennis competition at the Olympic Games begins on 27 July and Sir Andy, who made his Olympic debut at Beijing 2008, will play both singles and doubles alongside Dan Evans at his fifth and final Games.
She also has a silver medal in mixed doubles from the London Games, where she teamed up with Laura Robson.
The former world number one resurrected his career after undergoing hip replacement surgery in 2019 but has since struggled to reach the latter stages of major tournaments and suffered an ankle injury earlier this season in Miami.
“I’m ready to stop playing,” Sir Andy had said at Wimbledon. “I don’t want that to happen. I’d love to play forever.”
‘This year has been tough because of my ankle, then obviously the back and hip surgery. I’m ready to finish because I can’t play at the level I would like to anymore.
“I know it’s time. I’m ready for it.”
First Minister John Swinney was quick to praise Sir Andu, who was born in Glasgow and grew up in Dunblane, Stirling, following his announcement.
In a post on X, Mr Swinney thanked the 37-year-old for “an outstanding and inspiring career that has had a profound impact on so many people”.
Sir Andy’s mother Judy also commented on a post on X: ‘5th Olympiad. Final tournament.’
