Coco Gauff posts message on social media after becoming Olympic flag bearer for Team USA

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Coco Gauff clinched her first major title by beating Aryna Sabalenka in the 2023 US Open final.

Coco Gauff has her eyes on the prize at the Olympics, with the debutant eyeing up glory in Paris.

The American stands in good stead among a strong Team USA Olympic squad, with Gauff and partner Jessica Pegula the top seeds for the women’s doubles.

It was announced today that Gauff will be the flag-bearer for the USA alongside LeBron James in Friday’s opening ceremony.

This history-making appointment makes Gauff the youngest American to ever lead the field for Team USA at the Olympics.

How did Coco Gauff react to the news after becoming Team USA’s Olympic flag-bearer?

The 20-year-old was predictably stunned to receive the news that she has been voted to lead Team USA out at the opening ceremony.

She shared her astonished reaction on X saying: “I just want to say thank you to my fellow Team USA Olympians/athletes for voting and choosing me for this incredible honor to be the flag bearer for the opening ceremony. Thank you so much. I am incredibly honored.”

Gauff becomes the first tennis player to carry the US flag at the Games, with neither Venus or Serena Williams surprisingly never having been chosen despite their number of Olympic triumphs.

The youngster exudes a natural positivity and focus both on and off the court and will undoubtedly do her nation proud in the opening ceremony on Friday.

Can this opportunity give Coco Gauff the confidence to win Olympic Gold?

A superb run in Paris last month saw Gauff narrowly fall to eventual winner and Olympic favorite Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals of the French Open.

With a number of high-profile Olympic absentees including Emma Raducanu and Aryna Sabalenka who have elected to skip this year’s games, her route to the final looks less difficult as she might have originally anticipated.

Her planned appearance at Tokyo three years ago was cruelly snatched away from her upon a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.

With the 20-year-old bringing one of the biggest serves to Paris, her aggressive baseline game is disruptive and dangerous and will be the key to unlocking Olympic glory.

While toppling Swiatek will likely be the ultimate test, the world number two will certainly hope to at the very least bring home a prestigious Olympic medal.