Andy Murray confident of US Open appearance after Olympic campaign ends

Andy Murray says he’s been cleared by his medical team to play in the US Open after his Olympic campaign alongside Joe Salisbury ended at the quarter-final stage.

The Scot was aiming to become the first player to win four Olympic medals since the sport was reintroduced into the Games at Seoul 1988.

Instead his Games journey may well have ended on an outside court at Ariake Tennis Court with no crowd as he and Salisbury went down to Maran Cilic and Ivan Dodig 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 7-10.

“I hate losing. I wanted to try and win a medal with Joe, so it is difficult to take,” said Murray,

“You have regrets, think about points you should have done differently and that sort of thing.

“I have always loved team sports, I love being part of the Olympic. It is an amazing experience.

“I’m sure Joe will be hungry to come back and do more. All of the tennis players on our team have loved the experience. I just wish we could have done better.

“I don’t know if I’ll get the opportunity to play again.

“I have loved every minute of playing in the Olympics, and really wish today could have gone differently.”

It was a scrappy game played in soaring heat and both pairs made their fair share of unforced errors - the Croats winning despite making 33 and the Brits 21.

Murray and Salisbury were broken in their first service game but soon returned the favour and capitalised on faltering first serve to win the first in 49 minutes.

A bruising second set lasted 73 minutes and went the way of Cilic and Dodig, who prevailed in a tense tie-break to reach the final four.

Murray appeared first on the alternate list for the US Open after failing to make the main draw due to his current world ranking, which is currently 105.

“I don’t know. I will see how the injury heals, that will dictate it. I will not rush something if it is not there,” he said.

“My team think I should be OK to play the US Open. Judging by how I felt in matches here, I know it is not quite as physical in doubles, but there is still a lot of explosive movements.

“My leg felt fine, so I’ll wait and see.”

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