Tennis Star Coco Gauff Leaves Tokyo Olympics After Testing Positive for COVID-19
Tennis Star Coco Gauff won't make it to Tokyo Olympics 2020, as she tested positive for COVID-19, nearly five days before the start of the games. The news was confirmed by the tennis player herself on Twitter on Sunday, as she shares her disappointment with the sudden turn of events.
USA Today Sports reported that Gauff was expected to headline the U.S. tennis team, being the highest-ranked American player going to the Olympics. It can be remembered that the teenage tennis player assumed the leading role on Team USA after several athletes with big names in tennis, such as Serena Williams and Sofia Kenin, stepped away for the Tokyo Olympics 2020, citing injury and coronavirus concerns.
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Tennis Player Coco Gauff Sits Out of Tokyo Olympics 2020
Gauff was known to be the latest individuals to contract COVID-19 ahead of the Tokyo Olympics 2020, E Online reported.
"I am so disappointed that to share the news that I have tested positive for COVID and won't be able to play in the Olympic Games in Tokyo," Gauff said in a statement posted on Twitter.
The tennis star continued that it was her dream to represent the United States in Olympics, hoping that she would have more chances to achieve her dream in the future.
Apart from sharing that she can't play in Tokyo Olympics 2020, Gauff offered good luck to the USA team in the Olympics.
"I want to wish Team USA the best of luck and safe games for every Olympian and the entire Olympic family," the tennis player noted. Fans on Twitter sympathized with the player. One user prayed for the tennis player's recovery. Another user urged Gauff to take care of herself.
Apart from Coco Gauff, several other tennis players would also not participate in the games. On the women's side of Tennis, Bianca Andreescu, Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber, and Victoria Azarenka decided not to take part in the Olympics.
Meanwhile, men's tennis giants such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal would also not travel to Tokyo to participate in the Olympic games this season.
Tokyo Olympics 2020: Two Athletes, Team Colleague Test Positive for COVID-19
Aside from Gauff, France 24 reported that two other athletes also tested positive for COVID-19 in Tokyo Olympic Village, after a team colleague was infected, as confirmed by the officials on Sunday.
Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya confirmed that the three cases were from the same team and sport. The South African Olympic Committee later confirmed that three positive cases in Tokyo Olympic Village came from their men's soccer delegation.
Takaya underscored that the three individuals were isolated in their rooms and the Tokyo 2020 was the one delivering their meals to them. Furthermore, the spokesman also emphasized that the rest of the team was tested by the officials.
Olympic stakeholders were required to take two COVID-19 tests before they board their flights. They will also have their third test upon their arrival. To date, at least 55 individuals related to Tokyo Olympics 2020, tested positive for COVID-19. The figure does not include tennis player Coco Gauff, who tested positive before traveling to Tokyo.
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Written By : Joshua Summers
WATCH: American Tennis Star Coco Gauff Tests Positive for COVID-19 - From ABC News