Coco Gauff COVID-19 positive: With only four days left for the Olympics to commence in Tokyo, United States tennis player Coco Gauff has tested positive for the coronavirus which subsequently forced her to pull out of the Games. The tennis star also shared the news in a social media post. Sharing how "disappointed" she was, Gauff added that she hoped there will be many more chances for her to represent the USA at Olympics in future.
Gauff is placed at No 25 in the WTA rankings. The young tennis player was expected to lead the 12-person Team USA squad along with world No 15 Jennifer Brady, No 27 Jessica Pegula and No 35 Alison Riske in the women’s singles division. She also extended her wish on social media for the team and hoped for safe games for every Olympian and the entire Olympic family. Gauff is now quarantined and following isolation protocols.
The 17-year-old lost in the fourth round at Wimbledon earlier this month. She had a breakthrough run at the All England Club in 2019, winning her second WTA singles title in May 2021 at Parma. This was going to be her first Olympic appearance and Gauff was expected to become the youngest Olympic tennis player since 2000, according to NBC Sports.
Meanwhile, big names with major winners like Americans No 4 Sofia Kenin and No 16 Serena Williams also opted out of the games while Venus Williams didn't qualify for the singles tournament. So the 2021 Olympics is going to be the first one in 25 years without the Williams sisters participating in it.
Tokyo Olympics start on Friday and run until August 8.
Feature Image Credit: The New Yorker
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