SAN MARTIN, Calif. – Albane Valenzuela can’t wait to meet tennis great Roger Federer in Rio de Janeiro. The Swiss amateur qualified for the Olympics after making the cut at the 71st U.S. Women’s Open, quite the feat for an 18-year-old who first popped on the rankings in April.
“I want to be there from the beginning to the end,” said Valenzuela of attending both the opening and closing ceremonies.
Valenzuela’s Olympic dream was birthed after her father, Alberto, had a conversation with friend Paul McGinley, the former Ryder Cup captain, who told him the Olympics might be possible after she tied for low amateur honors at the ANA Inspiration.