Reigning U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff has been chosen to carry the flag for the U.S. Olympic team alongside NBA star LeBron James at the upcoming opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26.

“I never thought in a million years I would have the honor of carrying the American flag for Team USA in the opening ceremony,” Ms. Gauff said in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) announcement.

“I could not be more proud to lead my teammates with LeBron as we showcase our dedication and passion on the biggest stage there is.”

The 20-year-old, set to make her Olympic debut at the Paris games, will be the first U.S. tennis player to carry the flag. Ms. Gauff was forced to miss the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at the age of just 17 after testing positive for COVID-19.

Ms. Gauff, who is based in Florida, and NBA star Mr. James, 39, were chosen by Team USA athletes, according to the USOPC.

“To be nominated by your teammates for this honor speaks volumes about the way in which Coco approaches her sport and her role as a member of Team USA,” USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said.

“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,” Ms. Gauff said on X.

Both Ms. Gauff and Mr. James compete in sports outside the traditional Olympic world, which puts them in the constant limelight instead of just every four years.

Ms. Gauff holds Grand Slam titles in both singles and doubles, after winning her first major championship in New York in September 2023.

There, she defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the singles final of the U.S. Open before securing her first Grand Slam doubles trophy alongside Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic at the French Open in June.

The Paris Olympics will be held on the same clay courts at Roland Garros, where she won her last trophy.

The draw to set the brackets will be held July 25 and play begins on Saturday.

Ms. Gauff is seeded No. 2 in women’s singles and No. 1 in women’s doubles alongside her usual doubles partner, Jessica Pegula.

Ms. Gauff’s international career took off five years ago when, at the age of 15, she defeated her idol, Venus Williams, in straight sets during a first-round Wimbledon match.

The tennis star said she wants to make the most of her Olympic debut.

“I’m not putting too much pressure on it, because I really want to fully indulge in the experience,” Gauff said about her Olympic debut. “Hopefully I can have the experience multiple times in my lifetime, [but] I’ll treat it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

From NTD News