Britain's Olympic tennis hope Andy Murray said on Friday that his Games experience reminded him of being back at school.

The world number six is among the favourites for the gold medal having picked up his first Masters Series title in Cincinnati last week.

And he is also teaming up with older brother Jamie in the doubles as both of them take part in the Olympics for the first time.

"Obviously it's completely different to any other tournament I'm used to," said the younger Murray.

"You go into the dining hall (in the Olympic Village) and it's kind of like being back at a massive school. There's so many people, it's so long but I've enjoyed it so far."

Jamie was in jovial mood, frequently cracking jokes with the massed press corps.

World number one Roger Federer had said on Thursday that he wasn't staying in the Olympic Village because he gets hassled too much by autograph hunters.

When Andy said he wasn't suffering the same troubles, Jamie quipped: "I'm having a few problems, though."

Andy claimed that the Village was all part of the experience.

"You've got to try to get involved with all the other athletes, if you go and stay in a hotel it's more like playing any other tennis tournament. The Olympics is a bit bigger than that."

Both agreed that Friday's opening ceremony would be one of the highlights.

"It's something you want to do. We came to the Olympics to be a part of the experience and I want to walk out with the other athletes. I'm looking forward to it even though it's quite a long day," Jamie said.

"I've heard it's long but it is what it is. As athletes it's one of the best occasions you can have in sport, to walk out with all of the best athletes in the world," added Andy.

Although the brothers rarely play doubles together, they have probably played more than many of the partnerships here in Beijing, with players forced to line up with compatriots rather than their usual partners.

One such example is their first round opponents. Canadian Daniel Nestor is the number one doubles specialist in the world but he is playing with Frederic Niemeyer rather than his customary partner Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia.

"It helps that we played a lot before, although not so much over the last few years," said Jamie.

"In this tournament a lot of teams are scratch pairings because you have to play with someone from your own country.

"It's difficult because Nestor is number one in the world, he's playing great this year, he won Wimbledon and he's got a golden Grand Slam."

Nestor is a rarity in tennis as he has won all four Grand Slams as well as Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000.

Only legendary Australian pair Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde have matched that in doubles while in singles only Andre Agassi has accomplished that feat.

Away from the tennis, Andy said he was looking forward to watching the swimming and boxing tournaments while Jamie cheekily claimed gymnastics would be his spectator sport of choice.

AFP