“I’m more than a tennis player,” Coco Gauff reveals her impact off the court after being selected as Team USA’s female flag bearer – FirstSportz

Reigning US Open Champion Coco Gauff knows her impact extends beyond the tennis court. The American was chosen as the female flag bearer for Team USA at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, making her the first tennis player to hold the country’s flag at such an event.

The 20-year-old first made her name known to the sporting world at Wimbledon 2019, where she defeated the five-time champion Venus Williams in the first round. The then 15-year-old teenage qualifier advanced to the fourth round in one of the biggest tennis events. Last year she won her first Grand Slam by Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open.

Now regarded as one of the sport’s established youngsters, she has continued to consolidate her performances on the court. In January, she won her seventh title at the Auckland Open and has reached four semi-finals this year. However, going into the Paris Olympics, she was disappointingly defeated by Emma Navarro in the fourth round of Wimbledon.

As Team USA’s standard bearer, Gauff admits she’s more than just a tennis player; she impacts the world through her heritage and personality.

Tennis and trophies mean a lot to me, but the impact that you leave on people means more. I just want to know that I left my print on this world in some way, shape or form, outside of just the things that I do on the tennis court. 

Coco Gauff said via Olympics.com

Gauff gets a fair draw against Australia Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round of the women’s singles. Together with her partner Jessica Pegula she will play Daria Saville And Ellen Perez in the opening round of the doubles.

At the end of the day, I'm more than a tennis person: I'm a daughter. I'm a friend. I'm a black woman; U.S. citizen. I'm all of these things before I'm a tennis player. So I think if I can affect the world in some type of way… hopefully I try to do it in a positive way. It would mean a lot more.

Coco Gauff added

Coco Gauff wants to enjoy the Olympics despite the pressure that comes with playing in the event

Coco Gauff was set to make her first Olympic appearance in Tokyo in 2021, but tested positive for COVID-19 on the eve of the opening ceremony. The American has waited patiently for three years to get a shot at the event and has admitted she wants to savor the experience.

The 20-year-old understands the pressure that comes with playing at the Olympics, as the hopes of her country rest on her shoulders. However, she is not putting too much pressure on herself ahead of her first competition.

I’m not putting too much pressure on myself because I really want to enjoy the experience as much as possible. It will be interesting how it all feels to play such a big tournament with the Olympics, to walk in the opening ceremonies, to arrive, I guess on a boat, and then to have to play the next day.

Coco Gauff said via WTA.

Gauff has a 21-5 record at Roland Garros and reached the semifinals in June. She hopes her clay form continues at the Paris Olympics, looking to win a medal for the U.S.

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