Ellen Perez will achieve her Olympic dream after being selected in the Australian team for Tokyo.
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The Shellharbour talent will team up with former Grand Slam champion Sam Stosur in the women's doubles at the tournament.
The pair are members of a talent-laden tennis squad headlined by World No.1 Ash Barty.
The Queenslander will play singles alongside Stosur and Ajla Tomljanovic. Barty will also team up with Storm Sanders in the doubles.
The Olympics have long been a target for Perez, the 25-year-old determined to represent her country in what is usually an individual sport.
"As a kid I always dreamt of wearing the green and gold and playing for Australia so it feels really good and I'm looking forward to it," Perez said.
"Playing for Australia is the greatest honour, so for me, it's probably everything. It's the highest pinnacle of the sport and any time I get to represent my country, it's a great honour."
The Games will mark a record fifth Olympics for Stosur, the 37-year-old still chasing her first medal.
Perez teamed up with the veteran at the start of last year in a bid to further her Olympic ambitions, however their partnership was short-lived as COVID-19 brought competitions to a halt.
The duo were eliminated in the first round of the 2020 Australian Open and while they had limited success in their brief time together, Stosur is confident they can go on a deep run in Tokyo.
"Ellen and I have played a few matches together in the past, so no doubt we'll get on the practice court as much as we can before we get to Tokyo," Stosur said.
"It's her first time being in this position, it's a matter of soaking it all up. Firstly just enjoying yourself, that's the most important part of being part of something like this, you've got to enjoy it, be out there, give it your best shot. Hopefully we can combine well, communicate well and hopefully get a few wins."
Alex de Minaur and Nick Kyrgios lead the men's squad, the pair to feature in the singles tournament with John Millman and James Duckworth.
The men's doubles will see Millman partner with Luke Saville and John Peers combine with de Minaur.
The final mixed doubles teams are determined during the Olympics from players already in Tokyo.
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Cameron Mee
Sports reporter at the Canberra Times
Sports reporter at the Canberra Times
