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Gilles Muller playing against Rafa Nadal in the 2nd round of the BNP Paribas Open, in Indian Wells, California, on 13 March 2016. Photo: Beth Wilson (Creative Commons) 

A top 50 player for the past three years, Müller has been elected Luxembourg’s sportsman of the year for the past two years.

He currently ranked 36th in the world following a year in which he reached two ATP tournament finals, the most recent a defeat in three sets to Croatian player Ivo Karlović at the Hall of Fame Championships in Newport, Rhode Island.

As an 18-year old, Muller reached the final of the Wimbledon boys’ singles and won the junior title at the US Open to rank as the no.1 junior player in the world at the end of 2001.

Gilles Müller during practice at the Queens Club in London, prior to the Aegon Championships, on 17 June 2015. Photo: David Iliff (Creative Commons)
Gilles Muller during practice at the Queens Club in London, prior to the Aegon Championships, on 17 June 2015. Photo: David Iliff (Creative Commons)

Since then, his career has had its ups and downs. He has defeated players of the calibre of Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick and in 2008 reached the quarter finals of the US Open, losing to Roger Federer.

But Mulles, as he is known in Luxembourg, has also suffered injury and after missing several months on the tour he ended 2013 at the lowly rank of 338 in the world. That he has fought back to achieve his goal of consistently ranking in the top 50 in the world is credit to the Schifflange born player.

Gilles Müller in an official portrait provided by the Luxembourg Olympic and Sports Committee (COSL)
Gilles Muller in an official portrait provided by the Luxembourg Olympic and Sports Committee (COSL)

Rio will be Muller’s second shot at Olympic glory. He will be hoping for better then in 2012 in London, when he lost in the second round to Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, who was then ranked 33 in the world.