Coco Gauff is set to make history as the first tennis player to carry the flag for Team USA at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 20-year-old, ranked world No. 2 and the reigning U.S. Open champion, will also become the youngest American flag bearer ever, surpassing Cindy Nelson who held the role at the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Games.
Competition Details
Representing Team USA, Coco Gauff will participate in the women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events. She will team up with world No. 6 Jessica Pegula for women’s doubles and with men’s No. 11 Taylor Fritz for mixed doubles.
Originally selected for the Tokyo Games, Gauff had to withdraw in 2021 due to a COVID-19 diagnosis.
Rivalry with Iga Swiatek
The favorite for the singles title is world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who has clinched the last three French Open titles at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, the venue for the Olympic tennis events. Swiatek holds an 11-1 head-to-head record against Gauff, including a recent win in the 2021 French Open semifinals.
Despite the tough competition, Gauff, who recently won the women’s doubles title at the French Open, aims to challenge Swiatek during the Olympic Games.
Tennis Event Draw
The draws for the tennis events will be conducted on Thursday at 11 a.m. in Paris (5 a.m. ET).
Additional Resources
- At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, tennis is as odd a fit as ever
- 2024 Paris Olympics viewer’s guide: NBC’s plans, Snoop Dogg, and the big ratings question
- U.S. Olympian cheat sheet: Top athletes to watch in Paris beyond the best-known stars
(Photo: Clive Brunskill / Getty Images)
