“You go up, put your bags in your room, you find out who your roommates are and then you go down and get food,” said Eubanks. “You’re walking around, and everyone has those bright eyes.”

U.S. coach Bob Bryan has a good perspective on the Games. A 16-time Grand Slam winner in men’s doubles with twin brother Mike, Bryan is also a two-time Olympic medalist. The Bryan brothers won a bronze medal in men’s doubles at the 2008 Olympic Games and gold in 2012.

“The Olympics is one of those events, it’s very different than normal tennis tournaments,” explained Bryan. “Like Chris said, moving into his room in the Village and just seeing the vast expanse of athletes, and food is like a airplane terminal. … It’s amazing, the energy. It’s a lot of hope.”

“Winning Wimbledon might be more important when you’re in that [tennis] bubble,” Bryan added. “But when I take that gold medal to career day at my kids’ school, they freak out. That’s all they want to hold.”

Navarro — who dominated TV coverage just two weeks ago during Wimbledon — described meeting Katie Ledecky in the elevator at the Village. Pegula wondered if the U.S. tennis players could stand next to their flagbearer teammate (Gauff) during the Opening Ceremony.

“Do we get to stand next to LeBron too?” joked Pegula, referring to Team USA’s male flagbearer, basketball legend LeBron James.

All kidding aside, when competition starts on Saturday, the U.S. team is in the medal conversation. Fritz has done well on clay this season, making the quarterfinals in Rome and semifinals in Madrid. He is competing in men’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles (with Gauff).

“I want to get myself as many chances as possible to play in the Olympics,” he explained. “It happens every four years.”