Coco Gauff stressed the importance of being on Team USA ahead of the Olympic Games.
The 20 year-old is set to compete in the prestigious team sporting event for the first time which will take place at Roland Garros, the home of tennis’ only clay court Grand Slam.
The World number two has a strong record at the French Open and reached the final in June where she lost to Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals.
Gauff now has another chance of success at the venue but this time she hopes to win some coveted Olympic hardware for her nation.
What did Coco Gauff say about competing in the Olympic Games?
Gauff is part of an American Olympic tennis team also including Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins and her Wimbledon conqueror Emma Navarro.
On the other hand, the men’s team features Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Christopher Eubanks and Marcos Giron.
In an interview with USA Today Sports, the US Open champion recalled when it was officially confirmed she had made the Olympic team and explained what the event means to her.
“The Olympics has always been like up there with winning a Grand Slam so probably in the top two goals of things I wanted to do,” she said.
“It feels super honourable and I’m super happy. I got excited even when the team got announced even though I knew I was on it and I got super excited when I got my official nomination letter, so I’m really excited and hopefully I can do well there.”
Has Coco Gauff played in the Olympics before?
The 2024 Paris Olympics marks the first time that Gauff will be competing at the global sporting extravaganza.
She was due to compete at the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but she tested positive for coronavirus the day before she was due to fly to Japan.
Therefore she was denied the chance to represent her country on the biggest stage, but three years later Gauff will have her chance to fight for a gold medal.
“One of my biggest dreams is to win a gold medal, and frankly, I think it’s one of the things that it doesn’t matter what event it’s in,” Gauff said back in March of this year.
“A gold medal is a gold medal, where I feel like the Grand Slams is definitely way cooler to win a singles one than a doubles one.”
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