Through PTI

WIMBLEDON: Coco Gauff and Jennifer Brady will lead a U.S. Olympic tennis team that will travel to the Tokyo Games without any of the country’s top two or four men, according to a list obtained by The Associated Press.

The roster of players heading to Japan includes Gauff, 17, Brady, 2021 Australian Open finalist, Brady, Jessica Pegula and Alison Riske for the ladies’ singles, and Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe, Tennys Sandgren and Marcos Giron for the simple gentlemen.

Notably absent: Serena and Venus Williams, holders of a total of nine Olympic medals, in addition to their 30 total Grand Slam singles titles and 14 other majors together in doubles.

Sofia Kenin, Australian Open champion and 2020 French Open finalist, is currently the top-ranked American woman, at No.6, but has chosen not to go to the Olympics.

“It was a tough decision, but I spoke and discussed it with my agents,” said Kenin after losing 6-2, 6-4 to American Madison Brengle in the second round at Wimbledon on Wednesday.

“I couldn’t take anyone with me and I absolutely wanted to have someone.”

The Tokyo Games were postponed a year ago due to the coronavirus pandemic, and COVID-19 cases are now on the rise in the host city.

The Olympics open on July 23, less than two weeks after the end of Wimbledon.

Serena Williams, who is ranked No.8, was excluded this weekend.

She injured her right leg during her match at the All England Club on Tuesday and is absent from the tournament.

Brady is No. 15 in the WTA rankings, Gauff, quarter-finalist at Roland Garros this year, is No. 23, Pegula No. 26 and Riske No. 29.

The top four American men in the ATP rankings, Reilly Opelka, John Isner, Taylor Fritz and Sebastian Korda, have all decided not to compete in the Olympics, as has the country’s sixth highest man, Sam Querrey.

Korda ditched golf star sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda in Tokyo.

Instead, this week’s ranking of entered men’s singles is No.52 Tommy Paul, No.57 Frances Tiafoe, No.66 Marcos Giron and No.68 Tennys Sandgren.

Tiafoe defeated No.3 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Roland Garros finalist, at Wimbledon on Monday.

“It’s going to be different Olympics from years past; it’s going to take away. That being said, I feel like as an athlete I have to go at least once. So when I had the option, I absolutely jumped on it, ”Giron said.

“I understand why a lot of other guys don’t go. But I’m excited and happy.”

Eligibility was based on the ranking of June 14, the day after the end of Roland Garros.

“It’s in a pandemic, which probably won’t be as pleasant as it once was. And I think for American tennis players it’s not a huge priority. It’s not as much of a priority as it was. (in) some of the other countries, “Querrey said on Wednesday after knocking out No.8 seed Pablo Carreño Busta at Wimbledon.

“For most Americans, if you play it, great. But I think for me, I’d rather go and play (touring events in) Cabo, Atlanta, DC. I think a lot of other guys feel the same way. thing, “he said.

“It’s just not a high priority on the schedule.”

The International Tennis Federation was due to announce the participants in the Summer Games from each country on Thursday.

According to the US roster, the rest of her squad includes pairs of Gauff with Nicole Melichar, and Pegula with Bethanie Mattek-Sands for the women’s doubles, and Tiafoe with Rajeev Ram and Sandgren with Austin Krajicek for the men’s doubles.

For the Tokyo Paralympic Games, which begin August 24, the US tennis team is led by eight-time medalist David Wagner.

Also listed: Bryan Barten, Dana Mathewson, Emmy Kaiser, Shelby Baron, Casey Ratzlaff and Conner Stroud.