daniel chigunwe
Coco Gauff missed the Tokyo Games due to a positive test for Covid-19. Three years later, however, she will participate in this summer’s Paris Olympics, per a USTA press release.
She will be part of the Team USA tennis squad, along with Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins and Emma Navarro in women’s singles and Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Chris Eubanks and Marcos Giron in men’s singles.
Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek are also on the team for men’s doubles (Fritz and Paul will be the other men’s duo).
Desirae Krawczyk will join Collins in women’s doubles, while Gauff and Pegula will also pair up. The mixed doubles team will be announced at a later date.
Gauff (20) is the No. 2-ranked player in the world after winning last season’s US Open and reaching the semifinals this year at both the French and Australian Opens. She is 30-9 overall in 2024 with one singles title.
Her inability to make the trip to Tokyo in 2021 was a major disappointment, both for herself and the greater tennis world.
“I am so disappointed to share the news that I have tested positive for Covid-19 and won’t be able to play in the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” she posted on social media at the time.
“It has always been a dream of mine to represent the USA at the Olympics, and I hope there will be many more chances for me to make this come true in the future.”
Pegula (30) is 15-7 on the season and recently returned from a neck injury in April that cost her a chance to participate at the French Open.
Collins is ranked No. 11, while Navarro is 17th.
On the men’s side, Fritz is ranked No. 12 and Paul at No. 13, but there is a major drop-off from there, as Eubanks is 44th and Giron 53rd.
The women will carry far higher expectations in Paris than the men. — bleacherreport
Online Reporter