Atlanta native Coco Gauff named Team USA female flag bearer

US Open champion Coco Gauff, 20, will carry the flag for Team USA at the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday alongside LeBron James.

Gauff, who is originally from Atlanta, will be the first U.S. tennis player to carry the flag. Just three years ago, she was unable to participate in the Tokyo Olympics due to a positive COVID-19 test. Now, she’s leading Team USA in the Opening Ceremony.

“I never thought in a million years I would have the honour of carrying the American flag for Team USA in the opening ceremony,” Gauff said in a statement.

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Gauff and James earned the honor through the vote of their fellow U.S. athletes according to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Fellow Atlanta tennis player and close friend of Gauff Christopher Eubanks gave Gauff the news .

Gauff first entered tennis stardom at age 15 when she defeated her idol Venus Williams in two sets at Wimbledon in 2019. She won her first major title at the US Open last year.

Gauff is expected to compete in both singles and doubles at the Olympics, which will be held at Roland Garros’s clay. Olympic tennis competition begins Saturday.

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