Coco Gauff wins a title and surges ahead in close Olympic qualifying race

Coco Gauff is in Olympic qualifying position today. But what matters is where she’ll be in three weeks.

Gauff, the 17-year-old American, won a lower-level WTA tournament in Parma, Italy, on Saturday, her second tour title. By reaching the final, she surged past Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula and Alison Riske in a tight race for the fourth and final U.S. Olympic women’s singles spot.

Sofia Kenin and Serena Williams already locked up the first two spots on the team, which is determined by world rankings after the French Open, which starts a week from Sunday. Jennifer Brady has nearly mathematically clinched the third.

Gauff’s lead for the fourth is small — less than 200 points — but significant. A…