The 2004 Olympic tennis program was the same as it had been since 1988, with four events – men’s and women’s singles and doubles. Mixed doubles would not return to the program until the 2012 London Olympics. The events were held at the Athens Olympic Tennis Centre at the Athina Olympic Sports Complex Spiros Loues. The surface was hardcourts, specifically DecoTurf, the same surface as used at the US Open in Flushing Meadow, New York. The Centre had 16 courts, and was built specifically for the 2004 Olympics, with construction finished just before the opening of the Athina Olympics. There was a main court seating 6,000 fans for the Olympics, two show courts with seating for 3,200 seats during the Olympics, and 16 side courts with limited seating.
Ten nations won medals in 2004 tennis, with nine of them winning only one. For the first time since tennis returned to the Olympic Program in 1988, the United States did not lead either medal list, winning only a single silver medal in men’s singles by Mardy Fish, who was unseeded. Shockingly, Chile won three medals, two of which were gold, led by Nicolás Massú, who won the men’s singles, and partnered by Fernando González, also helped Chile take gold in the doubles.