Vamos Raflitos! The stage is set, the players are ready, and now it’s almost time to kick-start the mega event in Paris! On Tuesday, Alcaraz shared a photo with Nadal standing beside him at the Court Philippe Chatrier. Now, the two superstars of the Spanish tennis team are featured in Coco Gauff‘s background during an interview with TODAY!

The 2024 French Open winner, Carlos Alcaraz, is set to make his debut at the Olympics this year. In contrast, this will be the fourth and possibly final appearance for the two-time Olympic medalist at this prestigious event. For Gauff, the stakes are high as well. Having missed the previous Olympics due to COVID-19, she has now been named the female flag bearer for Team USA at the Paris Olympics, marking the first time a US tennis player will carry the flag at the Games. In a recent interview, she discussed all of this and humorously addressed the star-studded background of her interview.

Seeing Rafa and Alcaraz in her background, Coco Gauff said, “Yes it’s Rafa and Carlos practicing behind me. You know we called them in and asked if they could be here for an interview today to give you guys a nice backdrop at home.” Training sessions featuring these superstars of the game are a show that fans have always craved. Previously during an interview, Rafael Nadal admitted, “We have not been able to prepare like other great couples out there.” These intense training sessions are essential to building good chemistry between them and learning more about each other’s game. Surely, Coco Gauff must be having a lot of these types of intense sessions with Jessica Pegula!

Coco Gauff has always been a big admirer of Rafael Nadal. Even Carlos Alcaraz has taught her a thing or two in the past about handling losses in one’s career. Surely Gauff must have spent a few minutes watching them play after the interview!

Coco Gauff reveals her admiration for the Spanish duo

Once, during an interview, Coco Gauff spoke about how highly she has been impressed with Rafael Nadal’s mentality over the years. She said, “His mentality and intensity is something I admire. Honestly, he’s probably the only player that when I practice on the court next to him, I would literally zone out of my practice to watch him.” The 20-year-old American tennis star revealed that she had practiced next to some incredible players on the Tour, but Rafa is the only one her eye “wanders” to.

She simply loves his aura and the intensity he shows on the court. That’s always been something she has looked up to as a young player. Coco Gauff also learned a lesson by watching Carlos Alcaraz. She was amazed to see how wonderfully this young Spaniard handled his losses with a smile on his face.

Recalling one such instance from the SF of the 2023 Cincinnati Master where Alcaraz kept his nerves in intense moments of the match, Gauff said, “He (Alcaraz) was down a set and a break or something like that, I don’t know. He was down crazy or down-match points. He was still smiling.”

Do you think these three tennis stars will end their campaign with a bright smile in Paris this year?