Paris Olympics Controversy: Coco Gauff Led USTA Slammed for Injustice After American No.1 Calls Out Brutal Snub

Recently, the USTA announced its team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Shortly after this announcement, social media was filled with mixed reactions. Dreams got fulfilled for someone like Coco Gauff, who had missed last year’s event due to COVID-19, but for a few others like Nicole Melichar-Martinez, the wait continues. They have to wait for another four years in order to get a chance into the squad to take part in the Olympics. The 30-year-old doubles specialist is currently ranked 9, and she’s quite surprised to see her commission from the list.

According to the recently published list of players, Coco Gauff will be joined by Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins, and Emma Navarro in women’s singles. While on the doubles, Gauff is most likely to play with Pegula and Navarro will team up with Desirae Krawczyk. The team will be coached by the USTA’s head of women’s tennis, Kathy Rinaldi. After seeing this list of players, the dejected Nicole Melichar-Martinez put up a post on social media to showcase her disappointment.

In that post, she first congratulated all those players who got selected to represent their nation at the Paris Olympics. Then after that, she added, “Many have asked about my nomination, so I want to clarify what happened. I am absolutely eager and available to represent Team USA in Paris, but unfortunately, I was not selected.” She further went on to add, “This news deeply saddens me, as it has been a long-standing dream of mine to be on the team again and compete for a medal.”

Martinez later on also lashed out at the rule of the selection procedure. She said that according to the ITF rule a top 10 ranking guarantees a spot in the draw, provided the athlete is nominated by their country. However, unfortunately for her, USTA didn’t pick her name. To which she said, “I disagree with this rule. Given that doubles has an individual ranking, there should be clear criteria that allow players to qualify based on their own achievements. Same to singles, rather than leaving it up to selection.”

If we take a look at the doubles ranking of the players who got selected for the women’s team, Coco Gauff is currently ranked 12 and her doubles partner Jessica Pegula is ranked 44 in the world. On the other hand, Desirae Krawczyk is ranked 11 while Emma Navarro is placed at the 120th spot in the doubles ranking. Perhaps this is what led Martinez to say, “I can’t think of another sport where it’s possible to be #1 in your country and top 10 in the world and not secure a spot on the team.” Can Coco Gauff and co. prove the selectors right and bring home a medal from Paris?

Both Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula have one common goal at the moment

Last time, Team USA failed to bring home a medal in tennis for the very first time since the racquet sport was reinstated as part of the Olympics in 1988. Now, if we look at the overall team there are six first-time Olympians in the squad. Can they create a historic moment in Paris? Coco Gauff has revealed multiple times that one of her “biggest dreams” is to win an Olympic gold medal. She and Jessica Pegula have won 5 doubles titles so far as a pair, and they have also reached the no.1 and no.2 in the doubles ranking earlier.

Previously during an interview last year, Jessica Pegula said, “Hopefully we can play the Olympics next year. I know it was a goal that she really wanted to get a medal there… and for me, too.” American tennis fans now have high expectations of them. Can they prove themselves on the biggest stage? Time will tell whether they will get the chance to fulfill their wish or not, but share your thoughts on the team selection for the Paris Olympics.