Tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's singles

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Women's singles
Tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Final
ChampionFlag of Russia.svg  Elena Dementieva  (RUS)
Runner-upFlag of Russia.svg  Dinara Safina  (RUS)
Score3–6, 7–5, 6–3
Events
Singles men women
Doubles men women
Qualification
  2004  · Summer Olympics ·  2012  

Women's singles tennis
at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad
Elena Dementieva at the 2008 WTA Tour Championships.jpg
Gold medalist Elena Dementieva (at the 2008 WTA Tour Championships)
Venue National Tennis Center, Beijing
Dates10 to 17 August 2008
Competitors64 from 33 nations
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Elena Dementieva Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Silver medal icon.svg Dinara Safina Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Bronze medal icon.svg Vera Zvonareva Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
  2004
2012  

Russia's Elena Dementieva defeated compatriot Dinara Safina in the final, 3–6, 7–5, 6–3 to win the gold medal in women's singles tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics. [1] [2] In the bronze medal match, Russia's Vera Zvonareva defeated China's Li Na 6–0, 7–5. This was the first Olympic medal sweep in tennis since 1908, when three British women won medals in the outdoor women's singles tournament. It was the fifth podium sweep in tennis in Olympic history; all previous sweeps were by British athletes. It was Russia's first victory in the women's singles. Dementieva became the third woman to win multiple Olympic singles medals, following Steffi Graf (1988 and 1992) and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (1992 and 1996), and the first to do so in non-consecutive Games.

Contents

The tournament was held from August 10 to August 17 at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China. The DecoTurf surface made the event a hardcourt tournament. There were 64 competitors from 33 nations. [3]

Justine Henin was the reigning gold medalist from 2004, but she retired from the sport earlier that year.

Background

This was the 11th 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. [3]

Returning from the 2004 Games were bronze medalist Alicia Molik of Australia and quarterfinalists Francesca Schiavone of Italy, Ai Sugiyama of Japan, and Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia. 2000 gold medalist Venus Williams (who had lost in the third round in 2004) and silver medalist Elena Dementieva (a shocking first-round loss to Molik in 2004) also returned. Venus's sister, Serena Williams, made her Olympic singles debut after withdrawing in 2004 due to injury. Reigning Olympic champion Justine Henin of Belgium had retired earlier in 2008. The #1 seed, Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, withdrew due to an injury. This left a relatively open field, with Ivanovic's countrywoman Jelena Janković, the Williams sisters, and the four Russian players (Kuznetsova, Dementieva, Dinara Safina, and Vera Zvonareva) among the top contenders. [3]

Serbia made its (post-separation from Montenegro) debut in the event. France made its 10th appearance, most among nations to that point, having missed only the 1908 Games in London (when only British players competed).

Qualification

Qualification for the women's singles was primarily through the WTA ranking list of 9 June 2008. Nations had been limited to four players in the event since the 2000 Games. There were 64 quota places available for women's singles. The first 56 were assigned through the world ranking. There were two Tripartite Commission invitation places and 6 final qualification places allocated by the ITF based on continental and national representation along with world rankings.

Competition format

The competition was a single-elimination tournament with a bronze medal match. Matches were in best-of-3 sets. No tiebreak was played in the final set.

Schedule

August10111213141617
Morning10.3010.3010.30
Afternoon17.0017.0017.0016.0016.0016.0016.00
Round of 64Round of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsBronze
Final

Seeds

1.  Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Ana Ivanovic  (SRB)(withdrew because of a thumb injury)
2.  Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Jelena Janković  (SRB)(quarterfinals)
3.  Flag of Russia.svg  Svetlana Kuznetsova  (RUS)(first round)
4.  Flag of the United States.svg  Serena Williams  (USA)(quarterfinals)
5.  Flag of Russia.svg  Elena Dementieva  (RUS) (champion, gold medalist)
6.  Flag of Russia.svg  Dinara Safina  (RUS)(final, silver medalist)
7.  Flag of the United States.svg  Venus Williams  (USA)(quarterfinals)
8.  Flag of Poland.svg  Agnieszka Radwańska  (POL)(second round)
9.  Flag of Russia.svg  Vera Zvonareva  (RUS)(semifinals, bronze medalist)
10.  Flag of Slovakia.svg  Daniela Hantuchová  (SVK)(second round)
11.  Flag of Hungary.svg  Ágnes Szávay  (HUN)(first round)
12.  Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  Victoria Azarenka  (BLR)(third round)
13.  Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Patty Schnyder  (SUI)(second round)
14.  Flag of Italy.svg  Flavia Pennetta  (ITA)(first round)
15.  Flag of France.svg  Alizé Cornet  (FRA)(third round)
16.  Flag of Slovakia.svg  Dominika Cibulková  (SVK)(third round)

Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.

Draw

Key

Finals

Quarterfinals Semifinals Final ((gold medal match))
               
 Flag of Austria.svg  Sybille Bammer  (AUT)3 63
9 Flag of Russia.svg  Vera Zvonareva  (RUS)63 6
9 Flag of Russia.svg  Vera Zvonareva  (RUS)3 63 
5 Flag of Russia.svg  Elena Dementieva  (RUS)677 
4 Flag of the United States.svg  Serena Williams  (USA)64 3
5 Flag of Russia.svg  Elena Dementieva  (RUS)3 66
5 Flag of Russia.svg  Elena Dementieva  (RUS)3 76
6 Flag of Russia.svg  Dinara Safina  (RUS)65 3
7 Flag of the United States.svg  Venus Williams  (USA)5 5  
 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Li Na  (CHN)77 
 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Li Na  (CHN)635  Bronze medal match
6 Flag of Russia.svg  Dinara Safina  (RUS)777 
6 Flag of Russia.svg  Dinara Safina  (RUS)65 69 Flag of Russia.svg  Vera Zvonareva  (RUS)67 
2 Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Jelena Janković  (SRB)2 73  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Li Na  (CHN)0 5  

Top half

Section 1

First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
Alt Flag of Israel.svg  T Obziler  (ISR)75 4
 Flag of Ukraine.svg  M Koryttseva  (UKR)5 76 Flag of Ukraine.svg  M Koryttseva  (UKR)61 5
Alt Flag of Estonia.svg  M Ani  (EST)4 2   Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  L Šafářová  (CZE)2 67
 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  L Šafářová  (CZE)66  Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  L Šafářová  (CZE)5 4  
 Flag of Spain.svg  A Medina Garrigues  (ESP)2 64  Flag of Austria.svg  S Bammer  (AUT)76 
 Flag of Austria.svg  S Bammer  (AUT)64 6 Flag of Austria.svg  S Bammer  (AUT)66 
 Flag of the United States.svg  J Craybas  (USA)3 2  13 Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  P Schnyder  (SUI)4 4  
13 Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  P Schnyder  (SUI)66  Flag of Austria.svg  S Bammer  (AUT)3 63
9 Flag of Russia.svg  V Zvonareva  (RUS)66 9 Flag of Russia.svg  V Zvonareva  (RUS)63 6
 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Z Yan  (CHN)2 0  9 Flag of Russia.svg  V Zvonareva  (RUS)677 
 Flag of Israel.svg  S Pe'er  (ISR)65 6 Flag of Israel.svg  S Pe'er  (ISR)3 64 
 Flag of Romania.svg  S Cîrstea  (ROU)3 70 9 Flag of Russia.svg  V Zvonareva  (RUS)776 
 Flag of Uzbekistan (3-2).svg  A Amanmuradova  (UZB)4 2   Flag of Italy.svg  F Schiavone  (ITA)644  
 Flag of Italy.svg  F Schiavone  (ITA)66  Flag of Italy.svg  F Schiavone  (ITA)678 
IP Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Y-j Chan  (TPE)1 66 8 Flag of Poland.svg  A Radwańska  (POL)3 66 
8 Flag of Poland.svg  A Radwańska  (POL)678 

Section 2

First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
4 Flag of the United States.svg  S Williams  (USA)66 
 Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  O Govortsova  (BLR)3 1  4 Flag of the United States.svg  S Williams  (USA)66 
PR Flag of Australia.svg  S Stosur  (AUS)66 PR Flag of Australia.svg  S Stosur  (AUS)2 0  
 Flag of Italy.svg  S Errani  (ITA)3 2  4 Flag of the United States.svg  S Williams  (USA)3 66
 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  S Peng  (CHN)777 15 Flag of France.svg  A Cornet  (FRA)63 4
 Flag of Spain.svg  C Suárez Navarro  (ESP)5 62  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  S Peng  (CHN)2 2  
 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  N Vaidišová  (CZE)61 4 15 Flag of France.svg  A Cornet  (FRA)66 
15 Flag of France.svg  A Cornet  (FRA)4 664 Flag of the United States.svg  S Williams  (USA)64 3
10 Flag of Slovakia.svg  D Hantuchová  (SVK)67 5 Flag of Russia.svg  E Dementieva  (RUS)3 66
 Flag of Japan.svg  A Sugiyama  (JPN)2 5  10 Flag of Slovakia.svg  D Hantuchová  (SVK)1 3  
IP Flag of Tunisia.svg  S Sfar  (TUN)4 1   Flag of Denmark.svg  C Wozniacki  (DEN)66 
 Flag of Denmark.svg  C Wozniacki  (DEN)66  Flag of Denmark.svg  C Wozniacki  (DEN)632  
IP Flag of Thailand.svg  T Tanasugarn  (THA)2 1  5 Flag of Russia.svg  E Dementieva  (RUS)776 
 Flag of Sweden.svg  S Arvidsson  (SWE)66  Flag of Sweden.svg  S Arvidsson  (SWE)3 4  
 Flag of Ukraine.svg  K Bondarenko  (UKR)1 4  5 Flag of Russia.svg  E Dementieva  (RUS)66 
5 Flag of Russia.svg  E Dementieva  (RUS)66 

Bottom half

Section 3

First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
7 Flag of the United States.svg  V Williams  (USA)66 
 Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  T Bacsinszky  (SUI)3 2  7 Flag of the United States.svg  V Williams  (USA)66 
 Flag of India.svg  S Mirza  (IND)1 1r Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  I Benešová  (CZE)1 4  
 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  I Benešová  (CZE)62  7 Flag of the United States.svg  V Williams  (USA)66 
 Flag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  G Dulko  (ARG)3 4  12 Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  V Azarenka  (BLR)3 2  
 Flag of Australia.svg  C Dellacqua  (AUS)66  Flag of Australia.svg  C Dellacqua  (AUS)2 2  
 Flag of Ukraine.svg  T Perebiynis  (UKR)4 74 12 Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  V Azarenka  (BLR)66 
12 Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  V Azarenka  (BLR)65 67 Flag of the United States.svg  V Williams  (USA)5 5  
14 Flag of Italy.svg  F Pennetta  (ITA)2 66  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  N Li  (CHN)77 
 Flag of Estonia.svg  K Kanepi  (EST)678  Flag of Estonia.svg  K Kanepi  (EST)67 
 Flag of Greece.svg  E Daniilidou  (GRE)3 3   Flag of France.svg  V Razzano  (FRA)4 5  
 Flag of France.svg  V Razzano  (FRA)66  Flag of Estonia.svg  K Kanepi  (EST)62 0
IP Flag of Japan.svg  A Morita  (JPN)5 796 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  N Li  (CHN)4 66
 Flag of New Zealand.svg  M Erakovic  (NZL)7674 IP Flag of Japan.svg  A Morita  (JPN)2 5  
 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  N Li  (CHN)776  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  N Li  (CHN)67 
3 Flag of Russia.svg  S Kuznetsova  (RUS)654  

Section 4

First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
6 Flag of Russia.svg  D Safina  (RUS)677 
PR Flag of Italy.svg  M Santangelo  (ITA)3 61 6 Flag of Russia.svg  D Safina  (RUS)776 
IP Flag of Australia.svg  A Molik  (AUS)1 1  Alt Flag of Spain.svg  MJ Martínez Sánchez  (ESP)631  
Alt Flag of Spain.svg  MJ Martínez Sánchez  (ESP)66 6 Flag of Russia.svg  D Safina  (RUS)66 
IP Flag of Spain.svg  N Llagostera Vives  (ESP)2 67PR Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  J Zheng  (CHN)4 3  
 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  K Zakopalová  (CZE)63 5 IP Flag of Spain.svg  N Llagostera Vives  (ESP)791 4
PR Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  J Zheng  (CHN)4 67PR Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  J Zheng  (CHN)6766
11 Flag of Hungary.svg  Á Szávay  (HUN)63 5 6 Flag of Russia.svg  D Safina  (RUS)65 6
16 Flag of Slovakia.svg  D Cibulková  (SVK)67 2 Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  J Janković  (SRB)2 73
 Flag of France.svg  P Parmentier  (FRA)1 5   16 Flag of Slovakia.svg  D Cibulková  (SVK)66 
 Flag of Poland.svg  M Domachowska  (POL)3 4   Flag of Bulgaria.svg  T Pironkova  (BUL)2 2  
 Flag of Bulgaria.svg  T Pironkova  (BUL)66 16 Flag of Slovakia.svg  D Cibulková  (SVK)5 1  
PR Flag of Venezuela.svg  M Sequera  (VEN)61r2 Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  J Janković  (SRB)76 
 Flag of Ukraine.svg  A Bondarenko  (UKR)3 0   Flag of Ukraine.svg  A Bondarenko  (UKR)5 1  
INV Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  C Black  (ZIM)3 3  2 Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  J Janković  (SRB)76 
2 Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  J Janković  (SRB)66 

References

  1. "Dementieva beats Russian compatriot Safina for gold". ESPN. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  2. "Olympics: Dementieva comes from behind to take gold". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Singles, Women". Olympedia. Retrieved 16 July 2021.