Andy Murray believes there is no greater achievement in sport than winning a gold medal at the Olympics.

The 25-year-old has been confirmed as the first player in Team GB's tennis squad for London 2012.

quote In the last four years I've understood how important the Olympics is to a tennis player and especially myself. Andy Murray

In an interview with BBC Sport, Murray said: "Within tennis, a Grand Slam is probably more prestigious.

"But in general, to the whole world, a gold medal is the pinnacle of sport. Winning a medal this summer for Team GB is one of my major goals."

Murray will have to win six matches to triumph in the men's singles, which takes place at Wimbledon from 25 July to 5 August.

The world number four, who is likely to pair up with brother Jamie in the doubles, is relishing the chance to represent his nation on home soil.

When asked if it would be the proudest moment of his life, Murray said: "I know it's going to be up there because I know what being part of the last Olympic team was like.

"In the last four years I've understood how important the Olympics is to a tennis player and especially myself.

"Playing in front of home support makes a huge difference to your performance. I'm sure I'll be emotional and hopefully that will contribute to a better display."

At the 2008 Games in Beijing, Murray was upset by 77th-ranked Yen-Hsun Lu of Taiwan in round one, and the British number one is determined to make amends this time round.

"It was one of the best experiences of my life being part of the Olympics, going to the opening ceremony and being around all the other athletes," he explained.

"But I was very disappointed with the way I played and to finish so early. You feel like you haven't contributed. It was tough and I didn't like it.

"So I want to make sure this time I leave everything out there on the court and hopefully have a great tournament."

DID YOU KNOW? Team GB top the all-time Olympic tennis medal table with 16 golds between 1896 and 1924 but the sport was not included in the programme for the following 64 years. Great Britain's last medal came with the silver won by Tim Henman and Neil Broad in the men's doubles in Atlanta in 1996.

In an interview with BBC Radio 5 live, former world number one and Wimbledon champion Andre Agassi suggested Murray would have won multiple Grand Slam titles if he had played in a different era.

Murray currently has Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer ahead of him in the rankings. That trio has lifted 26 of the last 28 majors.

"Maybe at another time I may have won more but you never know," said the Scot. "Having those guys in front of me has made me much better.

"But I need to try and improve and this period now - with Wimbledon, the Olympics and the US Open coming up - is a good time to start."

Spaniard Nadal beat Chile's Fernando Gonzalez in the 2008 gold medal match, with Serbian Djokovic winning bronze.