“I Definitely Want to Play The Olympics” – Coco Gauff

Compatriot Sofia Kenin concluded Coco Gauff’s dream run at the Australian Open 2020 by overpowering her in the fourth round. Coco Gauff dethroned the defending champion and the World Number four Naomi Osaka in the third round. After the end of her fairytale week in Melbourne, the 15-year-old American aspires to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Before the Tokyo Games Gauff has four more tournaments under her belt. She has planned to show up on the courts of American Double Sunshine in Indian Wells and Miami. Also, Coco will participate in the French open 2020. Tentatively, she might be seen on one of the tournaments of the European clay tour.

“That’s definitely the goal. Hopefully, I can get my ranking up and qualify. I’m sure the cutoff is the French Open. I’m pretty sure I only have like three tournaments before French Open, so… it will be difficult. But I’m going to try as hard as possible. I definitely do want to play the Olympics. I mean, it would be pretty cool,” Cori Coco Gauff told the reporters after her loss in Melbourne.

Before entering the Australian Open 2020 tournament Gauff was ranked 68th in the world. After her run to the pre-quarterfinals, her career-high WTA ranking rises to World Number 52. For qualifying for the Olympics, Coco Gauff needs to tussle until Roland Garros to be one of the best American women in tennis. At present, there are eight American women residing inside the Top 50 WTA rankings.

Also Read – Sofia Kenin Bagels Coco Gauff to Make Maiden Australian Open 2020 Quarterfinals

Olympics qualification scenario

As far as the Summer Olympics qualification criteria are concerned, the singles track is based primarily on the world rankings until June 8, 2020. Top 56 players from both WTA and ATP can qualify for the quadrennial event. However, their entry can be limited to just four players per nation.

“This means that players who are ranked in the top 56 but represent the NOCs (National Olympic Committee) with four higher-ranked players already participating do not qualify, allowing players who are ranked outside of the top 56 but from countries with fewer than four players already qualified to compete.” (As the qualification criteria states). The players should have played the Davis Cup or Fed Cup in recent years. And Coco has represented the United States in the Fed Cup juniors.

Coco Gauff – “My short-term goal is to improve”

After her loss, Coco Gauff reflected on her near future plans. “My short-term goal is to improve,” Gauff added. “That’s the main thing. I’m doing well right now at 15. I still have so much I feel like I can get better on. Even my parents, my team, they all believe I can get better.”