Which Florida players are on the U.S. Olympic Tennis Team?

Florida has long been a cradle of tennis talent, consistently producing athletes who excel on the global stage. This year, the tradition continues as three players from the Sunshine State; Coco Gauff, Danielle Collins, and Austin Krajicek, are set to represent the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.  

Qualifying for the Olympic team is an achievement in itself. First off, players must be in good standing with the USTA both on and off the courts. They also need to have represented the United States in either the Davis Cup or Billie Jean King Cup. Coco Gauff, Danielle Collins, and Austin Krajicek have all met these requirements and will wear red, white, and blue on the national stage.  

Coco Gauff has had a great first half of 2024. Building on her 2023 US Open win, Gauff claimed victory at the ASB Classic, in January, for the second consecutive year. With a remarkable record of 20-1 in sets during this streak at that tournament, this was her seventh career singles title. She also triumphed at the French Open in Women’s Doubles alongside Katerina Siniakova, adding her first Grand Slam title in Doubles. She will look to recreate this success on the same courts at the 2024 Paris games.

Above: Coco Gauff. Photo: Porsche Newsroom.

Danielle Collins, who announced that 2024 would be her final year on the WTA tour, is looking to ride off into the sunset. From her beginnings in junior tennis capturing multiple wins at the Bobby Curtis Junior State Championship, Collins has always been a standout. In her farewell year, she achieved back-to-back victories at the Miami Open and the Credit One Charleston Open, hoisting a 13-win streak in that time. 

Above: Danielle Collins. Photo: si.robi (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED).

Finally, Austin Krajicek, known best for his doubles mastery, brings a ton of experience. Last year, Krajicek won the French Open, his first Doubles Grand Slam title of his career. 

Above: Austin Krajicek. Photo: Saulius Čirba via USTA.

Historically, Florida has been home to some top names in Olympic tennis. Jennifer Capriati made headlines with her gold medal win in women’s singles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics at 16. She defeated the legendary Steffi Graf. 

Mary Joe Fernandez is another Florida tennis legend at the Olympics. She captured back-to-back Gold Medals in 1992 and 1996 in the Women’s Doubles. Mardy Fish made his mark at the 2004 Athens Olympics delivering an exceptional performance and secured silver.  

As the 2024 Paris Olympic Games approach, anticipation and excitement are growing. The future of Florida Olympic tennis looks bright with stars like Gauff, Collins, and Krajicek leading the charge. The action kicks off on July 26 in Paris and you can cheer on USA Tennis with us! 

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Written by: Jaret Kappelman, Marketing & Communications Coordinator for USTA Florida. Be sure to check out USTA Florida, the governing body of amateur tennis in Florida, offering tennis programs for all ages and ability levels. Photos courtesy of  USTA Florida. Top Photo: Carine06 from UK, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons