Paris 2024: Nadal, Serena, Gauff and Mauresmo contribute to make history at Paris 2024 opening ceremony

Four tennis stars had a prominent place in the incredible opening ceremony of Paris 2024 Olympics

27 July 2024

Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci and Serena Williams during the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024 in Paris | © LUDVIG THUNMAN/BILDBYRÅN/Shutterstock

Cédric Rouquette

Amélie Mauresmo among the last runners of the Olympic Torch

One of France’s favourite daughters – Amelie Mauresmo – the two-time slam winner, world No 1 in 2006 and the current tournament director of Roland-Garros, was among the French sports stars picked to be the last runners of the Olympic Torch, bringing the flame into the Jardin des Tuileries, where the Olympic cauldron was lit on Friday.

Amelie Mauresmo, opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics — Amelie Mauresmo carries a torch in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics | © AP Photo/Anjum Naveed/SIPA Press

Rafael Nadal takes the flame from Zinedine Zidane’s hands

No, it was not a Real Madrid fans’ reunion, but the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024. Tennis legend Rafael Nadal was chosen to bring the flame to the feet of the Eiffel Tower, in a boat where Serena Williams (see featured image), American athlete Carl Lewis and Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, both Olympic legends, sailed on the Seine. On stage, Nadal took the flame again from the hands of football star Zinedine Zidane.

Rafael Nadal receives the Olympic torch from Zinedine Zidane during the Open ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Trocadero in Paris (France) — Rafael Nadal receives the Olympic torch from Zinedine Zidane during the Open ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Trocadero in Paris | © Inside / Panoramic

Coco Gauff, flag bearer with Lebron James for the USA

The US Open 2023 women’s champion, Coco Gauff, was the flag bearer of the USA delegation alongside basketball superstar LeBron James.

Coco Gauff and Lebron James take photos as they travel along the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics | © AP Photo/Ashley Landis,Pool/SIPA Press

Other tennis figures were seen in the opening ceremony, living their best life on Paris’ boats: Casper Ruud (Norway), Andy Murray (Great Britain), Maria Sakkari (Greece), Alex de Minaur (Australia) and of course a lot of French players: Corentin Mouret, Edouard Roger-Vasselin, Clara Burel, Varvara Gracheva, just to name a few.

Elina Svitolina, who has done so much to keep the plight of Ukraine in the public discourse since Russia invaded her country in 2022, had a big smile on her face as she carried the nation’s flag.