Paris, July 24: Tennis star Coco Gauff will join LeBron James as a flag bearer for the US Olympic team at Friday's opening ceremony. Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, is set to make her Olympic debut at the Paris Games and will be the first tennis athlete to carry the US flag. She and James were chosen by Team USA athletes. The 20-year-old Gauff made the American team for the Tokyo Games three years ago as a teenager but had to sit out those Olympics because she tested positive for COVID-19 before she was supposed to fly to Japan.  Most Medals Won By An Athlete in Olympics and Other Major Records in History of Multi-Sport Mega Event Ahead of Paris Olympic Games 2024.

Now Gauff, based in Florida, is a Grand Slam title winner in singles and doubles. She won her first major championship in New York in September, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the singles final of the US Open, then added her first Grand Slam doubles trophy at the French Open this June alongside Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic. France Bans Its Women Muslim Athletes from Wearing Hijab in Paris Olympics 2024, IOC Clarifies No Restrictions on Other Country Athletes.

The same clay courts at Roland Garros used for the French Open will be where matches will be held for the Paris Olympics. The draw to set the brackets is on Thursday, and play begins on Friday. Gauff is seeded No. 2 in singles, matching her current WTA ranking behind No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland, and will be among the medal favourites. She and her usual doubles partner, Jessica Pegula, are seeded No. 1 in women's doubles. It's possible Gauff could also be entered in mixed doubles, but those pairings have not been announced yet. (AP)

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