Overview
Five medal events every four years — and the missing piece in several of the sport's greatest careers.
Tennis has been on the Olympic programme since 1896, was dropped after 1924 over a dispute about amateurism, and returned as a full medal sport at Seoul in 1988. Five events are contested: men's and women's singles and doubles, and mixed doubles.
A Golden Slam — all four majors and Olympic gold in one calendar year — has been achieved only once, by Steffi Graf in 1988. A career Golden Slam has been completed by Graf, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Serena and Venus Williams, and Novak Djokovic, whose Paris 2024 gold was the last honour missing from his record.
Season Format
Recent Champions
Most recent first. Seasons still in progress are marked.
History
Tennis was on the programme of the first modern Games in 1896 and left after 1924 because the IOC and the ITF could not agree on who counted as an amateur. It returned as a demonstration sport in 1984 and with full medals at Seoul in 1988.
Players were initially unsure how much it mattered; that question has been settled. Andy Murray's two golds, Nadal's win in 2008 and Djokovic's in 2024 — after four previous failed attempts, and at 37 — have made Olympic gold a recognised part of a complete career.
The 2024 tournament was played on the clay of Roland-Garros, a fortnight after Wimbledon.
Governance
The International Tennis Federation runs the Olympic tournament under the authority of the IOC, with entry determined by the ATP and WTA rankings.