Murray gives up apartment for village life

Defending Olympic champion Andy Murray has decided against living in a private Rio apartment to move into the sprawling Athletes Village, according to International Tennis Federation chief David Haggerty.

Wimbledon champion Murray had said in May that he would live in a flat with other members of the British tennis team.

“I was talking to (British tennis captain) Leon Smith this morning and he said that Andy has moved into the village,” Haggerty told AFP.

“He’s rooming with Jamie (his tennis-playing brother). They want to be part of the team.

“This shows the Olympic experience to be with other athletes from around the world and gather together.”

Rafael Nadal, the 2008 champion, is also living in the village but world number one Novak Djokovic will move out once the tennis event starts on Saturday.

The Serb star said it was crucial for him to have his privacy although he has been with the thousands of other athletes in the village since his arrival.

Before injury forced him out of the Olympics, world number three Roger Federer had said that he was intending to stay in a hotel rather than with the Swiss team.