‘The Olympics is an important sport tradition’

One such “American girl” is Jessica Pegula, her fellow Top 10 singles star whom she has won five titles with, as well as reaching the Roland-Garros final with in 2022. They’re set to team up on the red clay again for Paris 2024, with a dream of landing on the podium not outside the realm of possibility.

Gauff will also play mixed doubles with Taylor Fritz.

“The goal one day is to, you know, win gold,” Gauff says bluntly about her Olympic aspirations. “And hopefully it can happen in Paris.”

While tennis has consumed her from a young age, the Gauff household is a multi-sport one, with her father Corey a star basketball player in college and her mother Candi a collegiate swimmer, as well. It might help partly explain Coco’s affinity for the Olympic Games.

Which is strong.

“I think honestly the Olympics is an important sporting tradition that I hope never, never goes away,” Gauff says. “Because it’s the one time in sports where all types of different sports are competing basically under the same pretense and for the same results… the same reward.

“So I think that is very important that we continue to, you know, play in this event. You know, I know for tennis players it’s difficult because it’s in the middle of the season. But I think it’s very important.”

It marks the first time the Olympics have been on red clay since Barcelona 1992.

“I don’t know, it’s just something about it,” Gauff adds of her Olympic wonderment. “I haven’t played it yet, but I know I’ll be so very proud to represent my country.”