With her run to the French Open quarterfinals, Coco Gauff earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in Tokyo.
She was then asked about the Tokyo Games after her quarterfinal loss to Barbora Krejcikova at Roland Garros on Wednesday.”I’m definitely planning on playing the Olympics,” Gauff said. “I’m excited to play.”
The 17-year-old said she doesn’t have any concerns about traveling to Japan for next month’s Games but also acknowledged that she hasn’t “really thought about it yet.”
The Olympics have run up against some concerns about the coronavirus in Tokyo, as Japan’s vaccination rollout continues to lag. Some players have expressed reservations about competing and French Open semifinalist Tamara Zidansek has said she will not participate in the Olympics for Slovenia.
The WTA rankings after the French Open ends Sunday will help determine who is eligible to compete in Japan.
Each country can send four women to compete in singles, with Gauff’s career-best Grand Slam performance at Roland Garros moving her into position to go to the Olympics.