Coco Gauff’s performance as US flag bearer at the Olympic Opening Ceremony raised high hopes.

The world number two tennis player waved the Stars and Stripes flag alongside male flag bearer LeBron James on a very rainy and windy night in Paris – but was ruled out of the Games just days later.

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Gauff, who was eliminated by Croatian Donna Vekic in the third round of the women’s singles at Roland Garros, could not hold back her tears and had an emotional moment.

The 20-year-old then ended her trip to Paris early due to defeats in the women’s doubles and mixed doubles, leaving her with a 0 for 3 medal haul.

However, the reigning US Open champion has suffered setbacks before and has come back better than ever.

US Open champion and super server Andy Roddick admires the ‘next Serena Williams’ and admits he ’embarrasses’ her – in a good way – whenever he’s around her.

The retired tennis icon praised Gauff’s intelligence and confidence in a recent discussion on the Tennis Channel Live Podcast, saying she puts even her 20-year-old self to shame.

“She’s a grown woman now,” Roddick said.

“For example, when I’m around him I feel ashamed of what I looked like in my 20s.

“Honestly. He’s just an incredible, intelligent, talented, confident person… He’s just amazing.

“You can also see his teammates, you don’t regret it, overall, they love him. They really, really love him and I think it’s a great thing that tennis is a tool for making friends.”

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Gauff had the best year of her junior career in 2023, winning her first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open in her home country.

She won her first major doubles title at the French Open in 2024 but suffered a tough defeat to world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the singles semifinals.

The Team USA star made her Olympic debut in Paris after missing the postponed Tokyo 2020 Games after testing positive for COVID-19 just before she was due to fly to Japan.

After losing to Vekic in the singles, Gauff lost in the second round of the women’s doubles to Czech duo Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova.

That same night, Gauff and Taylor Fritz were eliminated from the mixed doubles after losing to Canadian pair Gabby Dabrowski and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

“At the end of the day, it’s over,” Gauff said. “I’ll take the positives and try to do better next time.”

“I thought I had a good shot at all three events.”

Gauff will now prepare for the summer hard-court season and two major WTA 1000 tournaments — the National Bank Open in Toronto and the 2024 Cincinnati Open.

Her North American adventure will culminate in Gauff’s final grand slam of the season at Flushing Meadows in New York in late August, where she will attempt to defend her US Open title.