Tennis at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Women's singles explained

Champ: Zheng Qinwen
Runner: Donna Vekić
Score:6–2, 6–3
Quadrennial:yes
Multi:yes
Type:mixed
Qual Type:qual
Event:Women's singles
Games:2024 Summer
Venue:Stade Roland Garros
Dates:27 July – 3 August
Competitors:64
Nations:30
Gold:Zheng Qinwen
Goldnoc:CHN
Silver:Donna Vekić
Silvernoc:CRO
Bronze:Iga Świątek
Bronzenoc:POL
Prev:2020
Next:2028

China's Zheng Qinwen defeated Croatia's Donna Vekić in the final, 6–2, 6–3 to win the gold medal in women's singles tennis at the 2024 Summer Olympics. It was China's first victory in the women's singles, the country's first gold medal in Olympic tennis since the women's doubles in 2004, the first singles gold medal for an Asian country in Olympic tennis, and also the first women's singles medal for Croatia.[1] [2] [3] Zheng and Vekic each saved a match point en route to the championship match.[4] By beating Iga Świątek in the semifinal, 6–2, 7–5 Zheng became the first player to beat Świątek at Stade Roland Garros since 2021 as well as the first player to beat Świątek in straight sets on clay since Maria Sakkari in 2021. In the bronze medal match, Poland's tournament No. 1 seed Iga Świątek defeated Slovakia's Anna Karolína Schmiedlová, 6–2, 6–1.[5] It was Poland's first medal in Olympic tennis.[6] Ranked No. 67, Schmiedlová became the lowest ranked semifinalist since tennis returned to the Olympics in 1988 and the first Slovak woman to reach that stage.[7] [8]

The women's singles tennis event at the 2024 Summer Olympics took place from 27 July to 3 August 2024 at the Stade Roland Garros, in Paris, France.[9] There were 64 players from 28 nations.[10]

Belinda Bencic was the reigning gold medalist from 2021, but was on maternity leave.[11] The silver medalist, Markéta Vondroušová, also withdrew due to injury.[12] Bronze medalist Elina Svitolina was the only defending medalist, but lost to Barbora Krejčíková in the third round.[13]

This tournament marked the final professional appearance of former world No. 1, 2016 silver medalist, and three-time major champion Angelique Kerber. She lost in the quarterfinals to Zheng.[14] [15] [16]

Qualification

See main article: Tennis at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Qualification. Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) can enter up to four players. Nations are limited to four players in the event since the 2000 Games. Qualification for the women's singles is primarily through the WTA ranking list. There are 64 quota places available for women's singles.

Competition format

The competition is a single-elimination tournament with a bronze medal match. Matches are best-of-3 sets. A tiebreak is played in all sets reaching 6–6, including the last set of a match.[17]

Schedule

The schedule is as follows.[18]

Sun 28 Mon 29 Tue 30 Wed 31 Thu 1 Fri 2 Sat 3
R64 R32 R16 ¼ ½ BM F

Seeds

The seeds were released on 22 July 2024.[19]

Draw

The draw was held on 25 July 2024.[20] [21]

Flag icon keyList of National Flags

Top half

Section 2

Bottom half

Section 4

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Zheng Qinwen rewards raucous Chinese support to grab gold in tense tennis final. . 4 August 2024 .
  2. Web site: Olympic women’s singles gold medal match: Zheng Qinwen beats Donna Vekic. . https://archive.today/20240803164239/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5678238/2024/08/03/zheng-qinwen-donna-vekic-olympic-gold-tennis-singles-women/. 3 August 2024.
  3. Web site: 3 August 2024 . Zheng holds off Vekic in Olympic gold-medal final . live . https://archive.today/20240803191341/https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4074958/zheng-holds-off-vekic-in-olympic-gold-medal-final . 3 August 2024 . 2024-08-03 . Women's Tennis Association . en.
  4. Web site: Photos: Vekic, Zheng and all of 2024's winners from match point down. Women's Tennis Association. 31 July 2024. 6 August 2024.
  5. Web site: Iga Swiatek wins bronze for Poland's first Olympic tennis medal. 2 August 2024. 4 August 2024.
  6. Web site: Iga Swiatek wins a bronze at the 2024 Olympics for Poland’s first tennis medal at any Summer Games. 2 August 2024. 2 August 2024.
  7. News: Anna Karolina Schmiedlova: The Slovak tennis surprise hunting an Olympic medal. NY times. 1 August 2024. 2 August 2024.
  8. Web site: Surging Schmiedlova Makes History for Slovakia at Paris Olympics. 31 July 2024. 2 August 2024.
  9. News: Roland Garros to host Paris 2024 tennis. Sports Business Journal. 8 August 2022. 28 January 2023.
  10. News: Paris 2024 Olympic Tennis Event Qualification System . ITF. 17 May 2022. 28 January 2023.
  11. Web site: Tokyo Olympics: Belinda Bencic wins gold but Novak Djokovic leaves with no medals. 31 July 2021. BBC Sport. 9 August 2021.
  12. Web site: Tokyo Tennis Silver Medalist Markéta Vondroušová Out of Paris Olympics With Injury. Sports Illustrated. 31 July 2024.
  13. Web site: Schmiedlova stuns Paolini at Olympics; Krejcikova prevails. Women's Tennis Association. 30 July 2024.
  14. Web site: Angelique Kerber drops retirement bombshell before 2024 Olympics. New York Post. 25 July 2024. 28 July 2024.
  15. Web site: Olympics: Angelique Kerber's fairytale run over. Deutsche Welle. Jonathan Harding. 1 August 2024.
  16. News: Kerbers Tenniskarriere endet im Viertelfinale . . German . 1 August 2024.
  17. News: Tennis at the Olympics: Fixtures, results, teams, format and schedule at Paris 2024. skysports.com. 17 July 2024. 17 July 2024.
  18. News: Tennis at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. nbcolympics.com. 1 June 2022. 1 June 2022.
  19. News: Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Tennis Seeds Announced. si.com. 22 July 2024. 22 July 2024.
  20. News: Olympics Tennis 2024: Draws, Dates, History & All You Need To Know. ATP Tour. 24 July 2024. 24 July 2024.
  21. News: Draws announced for the Paris 2024 Olympic Tennis Event. ATP Tour. 25 July 2024. 25 July 2024.