| Women's singles | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennis at the2020 Summer Olympics | ||||||||
| Final | ||||||||
| Champion |  Belinda Bencic | |||||||
| Runner-up |  Markéta Vondroušová | |||||||
| Score | 7–5, 2–6, 6–3 | |||||||
| Events | ||||||||
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| Women's singles at the Games of the XXXII Olympiad | ||||||||||
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 Olympic tennis pictogram | ||||||||||
| Venue | Ariake Coliseum | |||||||||
| Dates | 24–31 July 2021 | |||||||||
| Competitors | 64 from 35 nations | |||||||||
| Medalists | ||||||||||
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Switzerland'sBelinda Bencic defeated theCzech Republic'sMarkéta Vondroušová in the final, 7–5, 2–6, 6–3, to win the gold medal in women's singles tennis at the2020 Summer Olympics. It was Switzerland's first victory in the women's singles.[1] In the bronze medal match,Ukraine'sElina Svitolina defeatedKazakhstan'sElena Rybakina, 1–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–4. It was Ukraine's first Olympic tennis medal.[2]
The tournament was held at theAriake Coliseum inKōtō,Tokyo, Japan from 24 to 31 July 2021. There were 64 competitors from 35 countries.
Puerto Rico'sMonica Puig was the reigning gold medalist in2016, but she withdrew in order to recover from shoulder surgery.[3] The 2016 silver medalist,Germany'sAngelique Kerber, also withdrew prior to the tournament for rest.[4] The Czech Republic'sPetra Kvitová was the defending bronze medalist and attended her third consecutive Olympic Games, but was defeated in the second round byBelgium'sAlison Van Uytvanck.[5]
The medals for the competition were presented byCamilo Perez,IOC Member;Paraguay; and the medalists' bouquets were presented by Kelly Fairweather,ITF Secretary General;South Africa.
This was the 14th appearance of the women's singles tennis. A women's event was held only once during the first three Games (only men's tennis was played in 1896 and 1904), but has been held at every Olympics for which there was a tennis tournament since 1908. Tennis was not a medal sport from 1928 to 1984, though there were demonstration events in 1968 and 1984.[6]
This was the first Olympic tournament since1996 not to feature theWilliams sisters in the draw afterSerena withdrew for family commitments andVenus's ranking had not been high enough to qualify for the team.[7][8] Of the top players in the annual race to the year-endWTA Finals, the top nine appeared at the tournament, with 15 of the top 20 ranked players overall attending the Olympics. Among the top players to withdraw prior to the Games wereSofia Kenin, Serena Williams,Bianca Andreescu,Simona Halep,Victoria Azarenka,[9] andCoco Gauff.[10]
This was the final career singles tournament of former world No. 4 andFrench Open semifinalistKiki Bertens, who had announced her retirement from the sport at the conclusion of this tournament.[11] She lost to Vondroušová in the first round; her final career match was in the second round of thedoubles tournament, where she andDemi Schuurs lost toVeronika Kudermetova andElena Vesnina.
Egypt saw a player qualify in women's singles for the first time inMayar Sherif.France made its 13th appearance, the most among nations, having missed only the 1908 Games in London, when only British players competed.
EachNational Olympic Committee (NOC) can enter up to four players. Nations had been limited to four players in the event since the 2000 Games. Qualification for the women's singles is primarily through the WTA ranking list of 14 June 2021. An additional restriction is that players had to have been part of a nominated team for threeBillie Jean King Cup events between 2017 and 2020 (with some exceptions). There are 64 quota places available for women's singles.[12]
The first 56 are assigned through the world ranking.[12]
There are six places available through continental qualification: four through continental tournaments (two in the2019 Pan American Games, one in the2018 Asian Games, and one in the2019 African Games) and two through continent-restricted world ranking (one each for Europe and Oceania, which must come from NOCs with no other qualified competitors). The four continental tournament places take precedence over the world ranking, so the winners (Nadia Podoroska,Verónica Cepede Royg,Mayar Sherif, andWang Qiang) are not counted toward the 56 (but are counted toward the four-per-nation limit). One place was guaranteed to the host nation Japan.[12]
In an unusual career accomplishment qualification process, one spot is reserved for a former Olympic or Grand Slam champion who has not qualified through the current world rankings. The player must have won an Olympic gold medal or a Grand Slam singles final, be within the top 300 ranked players, and be from a nation that has not already qualified four players. If multiple players meet those criteria, the one with the most titles qualifies; if still tied, the highest ranked player qualifies. If no players meet those criteria, an additional place (57th or 58th) is added to the ranking.[12] For the 2020 tournament, the 'career wild card' quota was taken by 2011 US Open singles championSamantha Stosur (Venus Williams was not eligible due to the United States already having four players and defending champion Monica Puig was expecting to be in the entry list but withdrew due to injury).[13]
The competition was a single-elimination tournament with a bronze medal match. Matches were best-of-3 sets. Atiebreak is played in all sets reaching 6–6, including the last set of a match.
The competition is held over eight days from 24 July to 31 July. Times given are the start of tennis sessions, though the women's singles share courts with other tennis events.[14]
| July | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | |
| Round of 64 | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Bronze medal match | ||
| Gold medal match | |||||||
All times areJapan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Ashleigh Barty (AUS)(first round)
Naomi Osaka (JPN)(third round)
Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)(second round)
Elina Svitolina (UKR)(semifinals, bronze medalist) Karolína Plíšková (CZE)(third round)
Iga Świątek (POL)(second round)
Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP)(quarterfinals) Barbora Krejčíková (CZE)(third round)
Belinda Bencic (SUI) (champion, gold medalist) Petra Kvitová (CZE)(second round)
Jennifer Brady (USA)(first round)
Elise Mertens (BEL)(first round)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (ROC)(quarterfinals)
Maria Sakkari (GRE)(third round)
Elena Rybakina (KAZ)(semifinals, fourth place)
Kiki Bertens (NED)(first round)Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.
Key
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (ROC) | 0 | 6 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Belinda Bencic (SUI) | 6 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Belinda Bencic (SUI) | 77 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Elena Rybakina (KAZ) | 62 | 6 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Elena Rybakina (KAZ) | 7 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Belinda Bencic (SUI) | 7 | 2 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| Markéta Vondroušová (CZE) | 5 | 6 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
 Camila Giorgi (ITA) | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Elina Svitolina (UKR) | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Elina Svitolina (UKR) | 3 | 1 | Third place | ||||||||||||||||
| Markéta Vondroušová (CZE) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Paula Badosa (ESP) | 3 | 0r | 15 | Elena Rybakina (KAZ) | 6 | 65 | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Markéta Vondroušová (CZE) | 6 | 0 | 4 | Elina Svitolina (UKR) | 1 | 77 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| First round | Second round | Third round | Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | A Barty (AUS) | 4 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S Sorribes Tormo (ESP) | 6 | 6 | S Sorribes Tormo (ESP) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 F Ferro (FRA) | 2 | 6 | 6 | F Ferro (FRA) | 1 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 A Sevastova (LAT) | 6 | 4 | 2 | S Sorribes Tormo (ESP) | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ITF |  A-L Friedsam (GER) | 77 | 6 | 13 | A Pavlyuchenkova (ROC) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
 H Watson (GBR) | 65 | 3 | ITF | A-L Friedsam (GER) | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ITF | S Errani (ITA) | 0 | 1 | 13 | A Pavlyuchenkova (ROC) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | A Pavlyuchenkova (ROC) | 6 | 6 | 13 | A Pavlyuchenkova (ROC) | 0 | 6 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | B Bencic (SUI) | 6 | 6 | 9 | B Bencic (SUI) | 6 | 3 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| J Pegula (USA) | 3 | 3 | 9 | B Bencic (SUI) | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| M Doi (JPN) | 6 | 6 | M Doi (JPN) | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alt |  R Zarazúa (MEX) | 3 | 2 | 9 | B Bencic (SUI) | 1 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
 LA Fernandez (CAN) | 6 | 3 | 6 | 8 | B Krejčíková (CZE) | 6 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| D Yastremska (UKR) | 3 | 6 | 0 | LA Fernandez (CAN) | 2 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Z Diyas (KAZ) | 2r | 8 | B Krejčíková (CZE) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | B Krejčíková (CZE) | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First round | Second round | Third round | Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | A Sabalenka (BLR) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M Linette (POL) | 2 | 1 | 3 | A Sabalenka (BLR) | 4 | 6 | 63 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| C Garcia (FRA) | 2 | 77 | 3 |  D Vekić (CRO) | 6 | 3 | 77 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| D Vekić (CRO) | 6 | 62 | 6 | D Vekić (CRO) | 63 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ITF |  M Sherif (EGY) | 5 | 61 | 15 | E Rybakina (KAZ) | 77 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
 R Peterson (SWE) | 7 | 77 | R Peterson (SWE) | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ITF | S Stosur (AUS) | 4 | 2 | 15 | E Rybakina (KAZ) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | E Rybakina (KAZ) | 6 | 6 | 15 | E Rybakina (KAZ) | 7 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | P Kvitová (CZE) | 6 | 6 | 7 | G Muguruza (ESP) | 5 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| J Paolini (ITA) | 4 | 3 | 10 | P Kvitová (CZE) | 7 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| PR |  I Jorović (SRB) | 3 | 2 | A Van Uytvanck (BEL) | 5 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| A Van Uytvanck (BEL) | 6 | 6 | A Van Uytvanck (BEL) | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ITF |  V Cepede Royg (PAR) | 4 | 3 | 7 | G Muguruza (ESP) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ITF |  Q Wang (CHN) | 6 | 6 | ITF | Q Wang (CHN) | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| V Kudermetova (ROC) | 5 | 5 | 7 | G Muguruza (ESP) | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | G Muguruza (ESP) | 7 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First round | Second round | Third round | Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Ka Plíšková (CZE) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A Cornet (FRA) | 1 | 3 | 5 | Ka Plíšková (CZE) | 6 | 60 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| PR | C Suárez Navarro (ESP) | 6 | 6 | PR | C Suárez Navarro (ESP) | 3 | 77 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
 O Jabeur (TUN) | 4 | 1 | 5 | Ka Plíšková (CZE) | 4 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| J Ostapenko (LAT) | 4 | 77 | 4 | C Giorgi (ITA) | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| PR | E Vesnina (ROC) | 6 | 62 | 6 | PR | E Vesnina (ROC) | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| C Giorgi (ITA) | 6 | 6 | C Giorgi (ITA) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | J Brady (USA) | 3 | 2 | C Giorgi (ITA) | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | M Sakkari (GRE) | 7 | 6 | 4 | E Svitolina (UKR) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
 A Kontaveit (EST) | 5 | 2 | 14 | M Sakkari (GRE) | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| N Stojanović (SRB) | 6 | 6 | N Stojanović (SRB) | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N Hibino (JPN) | 3 | 3 | 14 | M Sakkari (GRE) | 7 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| PR | Y Shvedova (KAZ) | 5 | 2r | 4 | E Svitolina (UKR) | 5 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| A Tomljanović (AUS) | 7 | 3 | A Tomljanović (AUS) | 6 | 3 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| L Siegemund (GER) | 3 | 7 | 4 | 4 | E Svitolina (UKR) | 4 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | E Svitolina (UKR) | 6 | 5 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| First round | Second round | Third round | Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | I Świątek (POL) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PR | M Barthel (GER) | 2 | 2 | 6 | I Świątek (POL) | 3 | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| P Badosa (ESP) | 64 | 6 | 6 | P Badosa (ESP) | 6 | 77 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| K Mladenovic (FRA) | 77 | 3 | 0 | P Badosa (ESP) | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Y Putintseva (KAZ) | 64 | 3r | ITF |  N Podoroska (ARG) | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ITF | N Podoroska (ARG) | 77 | 1 | ITF | N Podoroska (ARG) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| E Alexandrova (ROC) | 4 | 6 | 6 | E Alexandrova (ROC) | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | E Mertens (BEL) | 6 | 4 | 4 | P Badosa (ESP) | 3 | 0r | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | K Bertens (NED) | 4 | 6 | 4 | M Vondroušová (CZE) | 6 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| M Vondroušová (CZE) | 6 | 3 | 6 | M Vondroušová (CZE) | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ITF |  M Buzărnescu (ROU) | 60 | 7 | 6 | ITF | M Buzǎrnescu (ROU) | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| A Riske (USA) | 77 | 5 | 4 | M Vondroušová (CZE) | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 C Osorio (COL) | 4 | 1 | 2 | N Osaka (JPN) | 1 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| V Golubic (SUI) | 6 | 6 | V Golubic (SUI) | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| S Zheng (CHN) | 1 | 4 | 2 | N Osaka (JPN) | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | N Osaka (JPN) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Demonstration |
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