Williams was thrilled for Gauff and her special moment.
Published July 28, 2024 04:00
by Dzevad Mesic
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Serena Williams emotionally comments on Coco Gauff being US Olympic flag-bearer
© Getty Images Sport – Elsa
Serena Williams made an appearance during the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics and she took a moment to express her happiness over seeing Coco Gauff being a flag-bearer for the United States national team.
After it was revealed that NBA superstar LeBron James would be a flag-bearer for the US Olympic team, it was also announced earlier this week that American tennis star Gauff would join him during the ceremony. Upon receiving the news, 20-year-old Gauff admitted to feeling “shock” as she simply couldn’t believe that she would get to bear her nation’s flag with one of the athletes she respects the most.
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And while Gauff was having her special moment, Williams was also there to witness everything.
“It’s amazing. Isn’t that great? I’m so excited to see her tonight. I’m just so happy for her. Oh god, I love it,” Williams said when asked about Gauff.
Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal
Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal© Getty Images Sport – Richard Felham
After letting it in sink that she was selected to be a flag-bearer, Gauff revealed that she cried of happiness.
“I thought I was gonna surprise them on the phone, and [my mom] was like, ‘Yeah, I already knew.’ So I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s great.’ But I’m glad that they’ll be able to come and be here. I know they’re excited,” Gauff revealed in a pre-Olympic press conference.
“I was very emotional when I was talking to my mom about it. I wanted to cry when I found out, but my whole team was there, so I went in the corner and did it. I truly am shocked, and I don’t take it for granted, and I am going to try and take it all in, and I know this will be a memory I will remember for the rest of my life.
“I almost feel like I’m having a little bit of imposter syndrome, but I am going to try to just take it in and be happy for myself.”
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Coco Gauff and LeBron James
Coco Gauff and LeBron James© Getty Images Sport – Pool
Gauff paid a special tribute to Williams before the Olympics
Gauff, who turned just 20 in March, is now the face of American women’s tennis and she enters the Olympic tournament as the highest-ranked female player from her nation but also the one who bears the most responsibility to do well in Paris.
For many years, former 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams was in that position. And Williams delivered, having won the gold medal in the singles event at the 2012 London Olympics while also winning three gold medals with her sister Venus Williams in the doubles competition.
And ahead of her own Olympic debut, world No. 2 Gauff recalled how she went from watching Williams – to meeting her – and then developing a friendship with the American tennis icon and also having her as a mentor.
“While tennis is an individual sport, you relish the relationships with your teammates. You’ve been lucky enough that your on-court relationships have turned into off-court friendships. One of those notable friendships is with your idol, Serena Williams,” Gauff wrote in an Olympic letter a week ago.
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“Serena was once just a stranger printed on a poster hanging in your room, and now you still can’t believe she’s a friend and mentor. Her profound impact on tennis, what it means to be a champion and to break barriers is a legacy you hope to uphold and carry with you into your first Olympic Games.”
Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff© Getty Images Sport – Lintao Zhang
Gauff hopes to instantly follow in the footsteps of her idol Williams
For quite some time, Gauff has been publicly telling everyone that one of her biggest goals is to win an Olympic medal. And with that being said, it is not surprising that Gauff signed up to play in all three events at the Paris Olympics – she plays in the singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
And while Gauff hopes to win the main glory, she has also made it clear that she would gladly accept silver or bronze medals.
“In your phone under your vision notes, you wrote that you want to win a medal at the Olympics. Gold, silver, bronze – it doesn’t matter. But you’ve already won, you’ve made your childhood dream of playing at the Olympics, representing the United States, a real reality. And now, finally, you get to enjoy it,” Gauff also wrote in the letter.
In the singles event, Gauff plays against Ajla Tomljanovic while she and Jessica Pegula start against Daria Saville and Ellen Perez. When it comes to mixed doubles, she and Taylor Fritz are scheduled to meet Nadia Podoroska and Maximo Gonzalez in their opener.
If Gauff wins a medal, she will join Williams in getting an Olympic glory in her debut at the event.
Serena WilliamsCoco Gauff
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