Tennis star Coco Gauff will carry the U.S. Olympic team flag alongside LeBron James during the opening ceremony on Friday.
Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, is making her Olympic debut in Paris and will be the first tennis player to carry the American flag at the Games. She and James were chosen by athletes from Team USA.
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“I never thought I would have the honor of carrying the American flag for Team USA during the Opening Ceremony,” Gauff said in a statement. “I couldn’t be prouder to lead my teammates with LeBron as we demonstrate our dedication and passion on the biggest stage there is.”
The 20-year-old was part of the US team for the Tokyo Olympics three years ago as a teenager, but had to miss the Olympics after testing positive for Covid-19 shortly before she was due to fly to Japan.
Three years later, Gauff is a Grand Slam singles and doubles title winner. She won her first major in New York in September, beating Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open singles final, and added her first Grand Slam doubles trophy at the French Open in June, partnering Czech Republic’s Katerina Siniakova.
The same clay courts at Roland Garros that will host the French Open will host the 2024 Paris tennis tournament. The draw is on Thursday, with play beginning on Saturday. Gauff is seeded No. 2 in singles, which matches her current WTA ranking behind No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland, and she will be among the favorites to win a medal.
She and her regular doubles partner, Jessica Pegula, are seeded No. 1 in women’s doubles. It is possible that Gauff could also play in mixed doubles, but those pairings have not yet been announced.