• London 2012 - Tennis

Murray: Doubles run will take pressure off singles quest

Andy Murray is hoping for a good run in the men's double with brother Jamie © PA Photos

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Andy Murray hopes playing men's doubles will provide a welcome distraction from the singles competition at London 2012.

Murray is hoping to go one better at the All England Club following his Wimbledon final defeat to Roger Federer earlier this month and he begins his quest for gold against Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka in the first round on Sunday.

First though, Murray is in action in the doubles with brother Jamie as the pair take on Austrian duo Jurgen Melzer and Alexander Peya on Saturday, and the British No. 1 believes a successful run in the doubles will help take the pressure off in the singles.

"There's always pressure when you play at Wimbledon but when you play in front of a home crowd, you up your game," Murray said. "It helps in all sports to have the crowd behind you.

"Sometimes when you're struggling it can lift your game. I've played some of my best tennis at Wimbledon, I've always enjoyed it. To get the chance to play with Jamie at an Olympics is going to be great but, at the same time, it is going to be fairly stressful. Hopefully, the doubles goes well because if it doesn't, the singles will become a bit tougher."

Meanwhile Jamie has warned his younger brother than he intends to be in charge when the pair take to the court. Andy Murray may be ranked No. 4 in the world, but Jamie is the doubles specialist and he intends to make sure he is boss.

"As the older brother I'd like to take charge but whether he listens to me, I don't know," he said. "But we get on well. We've probably played five or six tournaments a year for the last two or three years. I enjoy playing with Andy. I don't know whether he enjoys playing with me!

"Either way we're looking forward to it. It's a big moment for us, to play in an Olympic Games and a home Olympics on top of that. To be able to do that with your brother is something pretty special."

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