Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff of the US plays a return to Russia's Elena Vesnina during the women's singles second round match on day four of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Thursday July 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
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Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff of the US plays a return to Russia’s Elena Vesnina during the women’s singles second round match on day four of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Thursday July 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Coco Gauff of the US plays a return to Russia’s Elena Vesnina during the women’s singles second round match on day four of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Thursday July 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

American tennis breakout star Coco Gauff, 17, has tested positive for COVID-19 and won’t be competing in what would have been her first Olympics.

The young athlete shared her disappointment on Twitter this past Sunday.

“I am so disappointed to share the news that I have tested positive for covid and won’t be able to play in the Olympic Games in Tokyo. 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,” she tweeted.

The unfortunate news comes just four days before the Opening Ceremony in Tokyo, Japan.

Team USA had Gauff scheduled to compete in the doubles with partner Nicole Melichar at Ariake Coliseum Sunday.

The U.S. Tennis Association has yet to announce Gauff’s replacement for Team USA.

“We were saddened to learn that Coco Gauff has tested positive for COVID-19 and will therefore be unable to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games,” the U.S. Tennis Association responded in a statement.

“We wish her the best as she deals with this unfortunate situation and hope to see her back on the courts very soon. We know Coco will join all of us in rooting on the other Team USA members who will be traveling to Japan and competing in the coming days.”

Missing from the highly anticipated summer event many of the worlds best in Tennis, who have pulled out of the Games due to the pandemic.

Japan delayed the Tokyo Games in 2020 out of precaution.

Now a new Delta variant of the coronavirus threatens the 2021 Games. The Japanese government is limiting events for spectators in the host city due to rising cases.

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