Coco Gauff makes a historic debut at the Olympics in Paris
29 july 2024 в 20:37
Coco Gauff makes a historic debut at the Olympics in Paris.
The 20-year-old athlete set a record, becoming the youngest American to win a singles match at the Olympic Games, defeating Australian Ajla Tomljanovic with a score of 6−3, 6−0 in the first round match. The match lasted about 57 minutes.
«I won’t lie: I was more nervous in the doubles than in singles. I don’t know why. I think it’s just because it was the first match», - said Gauff, currently ranked second. «And I think when you start a tournament with a win, especially of this level, it just gives you more confidence».
Venus Williams, also at the age of 20, previously held the record after winning a singles match at the 2000 Olympics. Williams won gold twice, including a doubles match with her younger sister, Serena Williams.
«For me, it’s almost more important than singles», - Venus said. «To have a victory together with Serena, my sister and best friend, doesn’t happen very often».
Gauff currently has 2 wins at the Olympics in Paris, adding to her victory in singles over Tomljanovic on Sunday a victory in a doubles match with Jessica Pegula. Pegula and Gauff, who became the youngest American flag bearer at the opening ceremony on Friday evening, defeated Australians Daria Saville and Ellen Perez with a score of 6−3, 6−1.
Gauff’s debut at the Olympics was long-awaited, as she had to withdraw days before the start of the Games in Tokyo due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
While Gauff remained calm on the court, the 2023 US Open champion expressed her joy about her first Olympic Games months and weeks before them.
«One of the goals I wrote down in my vision on my phone was to win a medal at the Olympics», - Gauff said. «I'll be honest; I don’t really care in which competition. I feel like gold, silver, or bronze, whatever medal it is, it’s one of those things that doesn’t matter.
«Well, it does matter. Obviously, I want to win in singles. I feel like I would appreciate it just as much, whether it’s in singles or doubles. For me, it’s not the same as a Grand Slam».
The next opponent for the current US Open singles champion and French Open doubles champion will be a second-round singles match on Monday against Maria Lourdes Carle from Argentina
The 20-year-old athlete set a record, becoming the youngest American to win a singles match at the Olympic Games, defeating Australian Ajla Tomljanovic with a score of 6−3, 6−0 in the first round match. The match lasted about 57 minutes.
«I won’t lie: I was more nervous in the doubles than in singles. I don’t know why. I think it’s just because it was the first match», - said Gauff, currently ranked second. «And I think when you start a tournament with a win, especially of this level, it just gives you more confidence».
Venus Williams, also at the age of 20, previously held the record after winning a singles match at the 2000 Olympics. Williams won gold twice, including a doubles match with her younger sister, Serena Williams.
«For me, it’s almost more important than singles», - Venus said. «To have a victory together with Serena, my sister and best friend, doesn’t happen very often».
Gauff currently has 2 wins at the Olympics in Paris, adding to her victory in singles over Tomljanovic on Sunday a victory in a doubles match with Jessica Pegula. Pegula and Gauff, who became the youngest American flag bearer at the opening ceremony on Friday evening, defeated Australians Daria Saville and Ellen Perez with a score of 6−3, 6−1.
Gauff’s debut at the Olympics was long-awaited, as she had to withdraw days before the start of the Games in Tokyo due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
While Gauff remained calm on the court, the 2023 US Open champion expressed her joy about her first Olympic Games months and weeks before them.
«One of the goals I wrote down in my vision on my phone was to win a medal at the Olympics», - Gauff said. «I'll be honest; I don’t really care in which competition. I feel like gold, silver, or bronze, whatever medal it is, it’s one of those things that doesn’t matter.
«Well, it does matter. Obviously, I want to win in singles. I feel like I would appreciate it just as much, whether it’s in singles or doubles. For me, it’s not the same as a Grand Slam».
The next opponent for the current US Open singles champion and French Open doubles champion will be a second-round singles match on Monday against Maria Lourdes Carle from Argentina
© Artemenko Olga
