What happens when athletes enjoy their important tournaments? They not only have fun in their game but also create several memories. America’s flagbearer at the Olympics, Coco Gauff, experienced a rollercoaster of emotions at her debut Olympics run. While she fulfilled her two most-awaited off-court dreams, her banter with Carlos Alcaraz offered a funny yet accurate portrayal of their relationship.

Gauff, who aimed at the gold, had two important dreams about participating; clicking pictures with legends Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. This reigning US Open champion also traded pins with the Mallorcan legend.

However, the American WTA star had hilarious banter with Alcaraz, who earned a silver medal in his debut Olympics. Gauff mentioned not inviting Alcaraz into her photo session with Nadal because the young 21-year-old had no pins for trading. Gauff and Alcaraz share a good professional relationship. While the duo can’t be called friends, Alcaraz and Gauff are often spotted patting each other’s back in their victories. 

For example, Gauff’s social media story about her US Open win received a special shout-out from Alcaraz. Sharing Gauff’s image of kissing the US Open trophy, Alcaraz added a trophy, a love-struck emoticon, and a muscle emoji on his Instagram story, showcasing his admiration for Gauff’s US Open victory.

Alcaraz became a star of the Paris Olympics as other athletes qued up to get a picture with him. He shared pictures with Hana Goda, an Egyptian table tennis star, and the women’s hockey team of the Netherlands. Tiffany Ho and Thinaah Muralitharan, the badminton stars, also posted pictures with the 2024 Wimbledon champion. While almost every other athlete treated Alcaraz as nothing less than a superstar, Gauff decided to focus herself on other players. Even Murray clicked a picture with Alcaraz. while Gauff refused it playfully.

The American WTA star had a great time with the two legends of the sport, but the story is a little different for much of her stay in Paris. Despite her best efforts, Gauff faced nothing but setbacks, cutting her journey in Paris short.

Coco Gauff has to ‘advocate’ for herself ‘all the time’ 

Prior to her defeat at the hands of Donna Vekic in round 3, Gauff wasted three points before Vekic won the first set tiebreak. In the second set, the sixth game’s ending offered a standstill match where Gauff pleaded to the umpire. After this, Vekic hit a return to Gauff’s forehand, but the American player hit the ball into the net. Despite calling out Vekic’s shot, the umpire overruled it, awarding a point to the Croatian. “I have to advocate for myself all the time, I’m getting cheated in this game. You guys are not fair to me,” said Gauff while leaving the court weeping.

The reigning US Open champion also showcased the poor and chaotic arrangements of the committee in the Olympic Village but chose to stay in that accommodation despite her American colleagues leaving for a better place. “Like, at first I was going to move, and then when I kept meeting all these amazing athletes staying in the village, and then Rafa is staying in the village. So I was like, if he can do it, I can do it. But I understand why my teammates left,” said Gauff.

Gauff’s Paris Olympics journey had everything from fun moments to on-court drama. Given that Gauff missed the Tokyo Olympics, the Paris experience must have been one of a kind. While she couldn’t win a medal, she surely has won many memories from her debut Olympics journey. She will return next time with similar gusto but looks forward to two title defenses in the American swing.