Paris 2024 Olympics: Five more Americans advance into the second round of singles competition

Despite losing serve twice, Gauff capitalized on three of six break point opportunities to take the first set. After the changeover, the reigning US Open champion dialed in to win six straight games to clinch the match.

The key to today’s win? “Just my movement and depth in the court. I think I was picking the right balls to be aggressive on,” she said.

Gauff’s next match is against Maria Lourdes Carle of Argentina, who handily defeated Tatjana Maria in the first round, 6-0, 6-0. 

Navarro, another first-time Olympian, is relishing the energy and camaraderie of the event while taking care of business on-court. She handily defeated Julia Grabher, 6-2, 6-0, breaking the Austrian on all of her service games but one.

“[I’m] excited to be here. Excited to play for the U.S.,” Navarro said. “There's no higher honor in sport than playing for your country, so I just feel really grateful to be here.”

In her Olympic debut, Collins won her first set against Siegemund, 6-3, then won two more games before the German retired, moving the American into the second round where she'll face former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, who leads their head-to-head 2-1. They haven’t played against each other since 2019, and with Collins sitting at No. 9, two spots away from her career-high ranking, she could even the score.

Pegula, the only returning member of the Team USA women’s singles squad, defeated Viktorija Golubic, 6-3, 6-4 on Court Suzanne Lenglen for her best Olympic result. After getting broken in the first game of the match, she recovered to convert six of nine break points and fire off 25 winners to advance to the next round.

The American will play Elina Svitolina, who she leads 4-1 in their head-to-head. The last time they played was at the 2023 US Open, which Pegula won in three sets. 

“It's so different playing those matches for your country, whether Davis Cup or the Olympics. It's extra nerves at the beginning of the matches. I came out with a little extra energy and sprayed a couple balls, so I was lucky to lock it back in,” he said.

Next, Paul will face someone he’s never played on tour: teenager Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic, who beat Alexander Shevchenko, 6-3, 6-4. 

There’s plenty of American tennis on deck for Monday, July 29. Pegula, Gauff, Collins and Navarro will all play their second round singles matches. In the first round of men’s doubles competition, Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek play Australia’s Alexei Popyrin and Alex de Minaur, while Paul and Taylor Fritz face off against Felix Auger-Aliassime and Milos Raonic of Canada.