Guide Note

Tennis was one of nine sports held at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.¹ Men's and women's medal sets are awarded to the top singles and doubles players.²

Fast Facts

1. Introduced in 1896¹
2. Men and women receive medals in singles and doubles events²
3. Governed by the International Tennis Federation³
4. 172 athletes at the 2008 Summer Olympics²

Tennis debuted at the 1896 Summer Olympics. In 1900, the mixed doubles competition was added to the program.^{1 4} The sport continued in the Olympics until 1924, when all tennis events were discontinued. After appearing as an exhibition sport at the 1984 Summer Games, men's and women's singles and doubles events were reinstated as full medal events at the 1988 Summer Olympics. The mixed doubles event was not reintroduced.¹

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, tennis events were held from August 10 to August 17, 2008, at the Olympic Green Tennis Center.⁵ Russia won the most tennis medals, taking home three. The United States and Spain each earned two medals. Switzerland, Chile, Sweden, China and Serbia each took home a single medal.⁶

Tennis | Summer Olympics | Summer Olympics 2008 | US Olympic Tennis 2008 | Rafael Nadal | Roger Federer | Serena Williams | Venus Williams