WATCH: “This is crazy,” Coco Gauff still in disbelief about representing Team USA alongside Lebron James at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Gauff is one of the favorites to win gold in Paris.

WATCH: “This is crazy,” Coco Gauff still in disbelief about representing Team USA alongside Lebron James at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Coco Gauff and Lebron James (via Imago, Instagram)

Coco Gauff became the first tennis player to be Team USA’s female flagbearer at the opening ceremony of the Olympics. She was still in shock during the ceremony as she stood alongside Basketball star Lebron James, who was the men’s flagbearer in Paris.

The American’s achievements in tennis have seen her influence grow over the years. She first announced herself at the 2019 Wimbledon Championship stunning Venus Williams in a 6-4, 6-4 win in the first round. The then 15-year-old qualifier went on to win two more matches before losing in the fourth round.

Last year, Gauff became the youngest player since Serena Williams in 1999 to win the US Open. She rose to her career-high ranking of World No. 2 in June this year after reaching the semifinals of the French Open.

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Gauff is now taking part in her first Olympics after missing the 2020 Tokyo Games due to a positive COVID-19 test. While holding the flag during the ceremony on Friday (July 26), she went online and expressed her disbelief about being the flag bearer next to James.

This is crazy! Look, Lebron James!
Coco Gauff said during a live Instagram video

Gauff was handed a fair draw and will open her campaign at the Paris Olympics against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic. She is also competing in the doubles alongside her longtime partner Jessica Pegula.

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Jessica Pegula excited with the maturity of her doubles partner Coco Gauff ahead of their Olympics opener

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula‘s partnership has matured over the years. The pair have won five doubles titles and also reached a Grand Slam final. They, however, haven’t been together for the majority of the year due to Pegula’s injury worries.

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula (via Imago)

With Pegula now fully fit, they are among the favorites to win the doubles gold medal in Paris. They will play Australia’s Daria Saville and Ellen Perez in the first round of the Olympics. Ahead of that match, Pegula stated that GGauff has matured over the years.

We’ve obviously spent a lot of time together the last few years, she’s really matured and embraced her star power. It’s really cool to share this moment with her, and coming from Tokyo and what happened, to be able to turn that around with such a special honor (as flag bearer), it’s a really cool story.

Jessica Pegula said via USA Today

While Pegula was injured, Gauff partnered with Katerina Siniakova in the doubles of the French Open. They went on to win the title, beating the Italians 7-6(5), 6-3 in the final.

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