Sir Andy Murray and Dan Evans are set to make the opening doubles match tough against Japanese duo Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori, who are battling 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 Roland Garros quarter-finals seven years ago.
The draw comes after the Scot announced today that he would not compete in the singles event, ending his solo career.
The two-time singles gold medalist had registered for the 64-player draw, which will take place on Thursday at 10am.
However, Sir Andy has now indicated that he is withdrawing to concentrate on doubles with Evans as he remains unable to fully recover following back surgery last month.
Sir Andy Murray pictured with his gold medal after beating Switzerland’s Roger Federer in the final at Wimbledon, London, in 2012
Sir Andy pictured on the training pitch at Roland Garros with Team GB partner Dan Evans (far right) on Tuesday afternoon. The pair have been drawn against Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel
Sir Andy pictured with Evans as the two appear to discuss tactics ahead of the tournament
The two-time Wimbledon champion has faced the 34-year-old Nishikori 11 times in his career, winning nine times.
The Japanese star has won 12 titles and a whopping 434 matches in his career, but this is still nothing compared to Sir Andy’s impressive resume, which includes 46 titles and 739 victories.
The Scot won his biggest match against Nishikori in the semi-finals on his way to a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Sir Andy first played against his old rival in 2011 and won his first three matches against him.
Team GB team-mate Jack Draper will also have Nishikori’s experience at this summer’s Olympics to draw on, having been paired with the 34-year-old in the first round of the singles event.
Meanwhile, Cam Norrie begins his campaign to win gold for Britain against Dutch star Tallon Griekspoor and could face Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in the second round.
Evans will play against Moez Echargui from Tunisia.
The draw comes after Sir Andy announced on Tuesday that he was ending his successful career, arriving in Paris just ahead of his fifth Olympic Games.
Sir Andy became the first player to successfully defend an Olympic singles title in Rio in 2016
The Scot was photographed yesterday training for the tournament at Roland Garros
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Captioning a photo of himself on stage in Rio, Brazil, in 2016, he wrote: ‘Arrived in Paris for my very last tennis tournament @Olympics.
‘Competing in the British Championships was by far the most memorable week of my career and I’m incredibly proud to be doing it again.’
At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Sir Andy became the first man in history to retain his gold medal in singles.
This time around he forms a strong Team GB squad with Evans, Draper and Norrie, all hoping for a successful season starting next Saturday.
Sir Andy won gold at London 2012 by beating Roger Federer in the final and successfully defended his title four years later by beating 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 indicated 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 tournament where he won two of his three major titles, after suffering a first-round defeat to his brother Jamie in the doubles.
Sir Andy, who underwent surgery on 22 June to remove a cyst in his spine that was pressing on his nerves and causing him to lose control and strength in his right leg, decided he was not fit enough for the demands of singles competition at the All England Club.
His hopes of a final mixed doubles victory at Wimbledon against former US Open champion Emma Raducanu were dashed when she withdrew due to a wrist injury.
Tennis competition at the Olympic Games begins on July 27 and Sir Andy, who made his debut at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, will play alongside Dan Evans in both the singles and doubles at his fifth and final Games.
He also won silver in the mixed doubles at the London Olympics, where he played with Laura Robson.
The former world number one revived his career after undergoing hip surgery in 2019, but has since struggled to reach the final stages of major tournaments and suffered an ankle injury in Miami earlier this season.
“I’m ready to stop playing,” Sir Andy had said at Wimbledon. “I don’t want to. I’d like to play forever.”
“This year has been tough with the ankle, and of course the back surgery, the hip. I’m ready to quit because I can’t play at the level I want to anymore.
“I know it’s time now. I’m ready.”
Sir Andy’s successful career has seen him win major tournaments (pictured: Sir Andy celebrates defeating David Goffin to win the Davis Cup final in 2015)
Murray, pictured with mother Jude, wife Kim and father Will (L-R), was given his OBE in 2013
Murray became the first British men’s champion since Fred Perry to lift the trophy at Wimbledon in July 2013 after beating Novak Djokovic
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 message on X, Mr Swinney thanked the 37-year-old for “an outstanding and inspiring career that has had a profound impact on so many”.
Sir Andy’s mother, Judy, also responded in a message to X: ‘5th Olympic Games. Last tournament.’
