Singles, Women

Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic was the reigning gold medalist from 2021 but was on maternity leave in 2024. The silver medalist, Markéta Vondroušová from Czech Republic, also withdrew, due to injury. The 2021 bronze medalist Elina Svitolina from Ukraine was the only defending medalist, but lost to Barbora Krejčíková in the third round. This tournament marked the final professional appearance of former world No.1 Angelique Kerber of Germany, the 2016 silver medalist and three-time major champion.

The clear favorite in Paris was the top seed and current world No.1 Iga Świątek of Poland, but in the semi-final she lost to China’s Zheng Qinwen, 6–2, 7–5. By beating Świątek, Zheng became the first player to beat Świątek at Stade Roland Garros since 2021, in addition to being the first player to beat Świątek in straight sets on clay, also since 2021. In the final, Zheng defeated Croatia’s Donna Vekić to win the gold medal. 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.

In the bronze medal match, the tournament’s top seed Świątek defeated Slovakia’s Anna Schmiedlová. It was Poland’s first medal in Olympic tennis. Ranked No. 67, Schmiedlová became the lowest ranked semi-finalist since tennis returned to the Olympics in 1988, and was the first Slovak woman to reach the last four.