Tennis at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's singles

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Women's singles
Tennis at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Final
Champion Flag of the United States.svg Serena Williams
Runner-up Flag of Russia.svg Maria Sharapova
Score6–0, 6–1
Events
Singles men women
Doubles men women mixed
Qualification
  2008  · Summer Olympics ·  2016  

Women's singles tennis
at the Games of the XXX Olympiad
Victoria Azarenka, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova with medals 2012.jpg
Women's singles medalists
Venue All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Dates28 July to 4 August 2012
Competitors64 from 33 nations
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Serena Williams Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Silver medal icon.svg Maria Sharapova Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Bronze medal icon.svg Victoria Azarenka Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  Belarus
  2008
2016  

The United States' Serena Williams defeated Russia's Maria Sharapova in the final, 6–0, 6–1 to win the gold medal in women's singles tennis at the 2012 Summer Olympics. [1] [2] Both finalists were attempting to become the second woman (after Steffi Graf) to complete the career Golden Slam in singles. Williams won the gold, only weeks after winning the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, without losing a set, without losing more than three games in any set, and without losing more than five games in any match. Her serve was broken only once during the tournament (by Urszula Radwańska in the second round). She also became the first tennis player (male or female) to complete the career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles. It was the United States' first victory in the event since Serena's sister Venus Williams won in 2000, and its fifth gold overall. In the bronze medal match, Belarus' Victoria Azarenka defeated Russia's Maria Kirilenko, 6–3, 6–4. [3]

Contents

The tournament was held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London from 28 July to 4 August 2012, and was the first Olympic grass court tournament since tennis was re-introduced to the Games. [4] There were 64 competitors from 33 nations. [5]

Elena Dementieva was the reigning gold medallist, having won in 2008, [6] but she retired from the sport in 2010.

Background

This was the 12th 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. [5]

Returning from the 2008 Games were bronze medalist Vera Zvonareva of Russia, fourth-place finisher Li Na of China, and three quarterfinalists: Jelena Janković of Serbia and the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena. Venus was the 2000 Olympic champion, playing in her fourth Olympic singles tournament. Serena had won almost every tennis honor possible except the Olympic singles (the sisters had won women's doubles in 2000 and 2008, and would win again in London). The Russian team that swept the medals four years earlier had experienced nearly complete turnover; gold medalist Elena Dementieva had retired, silver medalist Dinara Safina was injured, and Svetlana Kuznetsova was slumping. This made room for Maria Sharapova, a major rival of Serena. Sharapova and Serena were seeded #3 and #4 behind world #1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and #2 Agnieszka Radwańska of Poland. [5]

Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein each made their debut in the event. France made its 11th 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 11 June 2012. An additional restriction was that players had to have been available for two Billie Jean King Cup events between 2009 and 2012. 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

Matches took place between 28 July and 4 August. [7]

JulyAugust
282930311234
11:3011:3011:3011:3011:3011:3012:0012:00
Round of 64Round of 64
Round of 32
Round of 32Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsBronze medal match
Gold medal match

Seeds

1.  Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  Victoria Azarenka  (BLR)(semifinals, bronze medalist)
2.  Flag of Poland.svg  Agnieszka Radwańska  (POL)(first round)
3.  Flag of Russia.svg  Maria Sharapova  (RUS)(final, silver medalist)
4.  Flag of the United States.svg  Serena Williams  (USA) (Winner, gold medalist)
5.  Flag of Australia.svg  Samantha Stosur  (AUS)(first round)
6.  Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Petra Kvitová  (CZE)(quarterfinals)
7.  Flag of Germany.svg  Angelique Kerber  (GER)(quarterfinals)
8.  Flag of Denmark.svg  Caroline Wozniacki  (DEN)(quarterfinals)
9.  Flag of Italy.svg  Sara Errani  (ITA)(first round)
10.  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Li Na  (CHN)(first round)
11.  Flag of Serbia.svg  Ana Ivanovic  (SRB)(third round)
12.  Flag of Slovakia.svg  Dominika Cibulková  (SVK)(first round)
13.  Flag of Russia.svg  Vera Zvonareva  (RUS)(third round)
14.  Flag of Russia.svg  Maria Kirilenko  (RUS)(semifinals, fourth place)
15.  Flag of Germany.svg  Sabine Lisicki  (GER)(third round)
16.  Flag of Russia.svg  Nadia Petrova  (RUS)(third round)

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

Draw

Key

Finals

Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
               
1 Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  Victoria Azarenka  (BLR)67
7 Flag of Germany.svg  Angelique Kerber  (GER)4 5
1 Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  Victoria Azarenka  (BLR)1 2
4 Flag of the United States.svg  Serena Williams  (USA)66
4 Flag of the United States.svg  Serena Williams  (USA)66
8 Flag of Denmark.svg  Caroline Wozniacki  (DEN)0 3
4 Flag of the United States.svg  Serena Williams  (USA)66
3 Flag of Russia.svg  Maria Sharapova  (RUS)0 1
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Kim Clijsters  (BEL)2 5
3 Flag of Russia.svg  Maria Sharapova  (RUS)67
3 Flag of Russia.svg  Maria Sharapova  (RUS)66Bronze medal match
14 Flag of Russia.svg  Maria Kirilenko  (RUS)2 3
6 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Petra Kvitová  (CZE)633 1 Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  Victoria Azarenka  (BLR)66
14 Flag of Russia.svg  Maria Kirilenko  (RUS)77614 Flag of Russia.svg  Maria Kirilenko  (RUS)3 4

Top half

Section 1

First round Second round Third round Quarter-finals
1 Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  V Azarenka  (BLR)63 6
Flag of Romania.svg  I-C Begu  (ROU)1 61 1 Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  V Azarenka  (BLR)66
 Flag of Spain.svg  MJ Martínez Sánchez  (ESP)66Flag of Spain.svg  MJ Martínez Sánchez  (ESP)1 2
Civil Ensign of Slovenia.svg  P Hercog  (SLO)2 4 1 Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  V Azarenka  (BLR)786
Flag of Georgia.svg  A Tatishvili  (GEO)6616 Flag of Russia.svg  N Petrova  (RUS)664
INV Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  S Vogt  (LIE)2 0 Flag of Georgia.svg  A Tatishvili  (GEO)3 772
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  J Zheng  (CHN)4 6716 Flag of Russia.svg  N Petrova  (RUS)6656
16 Flag of Russia.svg  N Petrova  (RUS)6791 Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  V Azarenka  (BLR)67
9 Flag of Italy.svg  S Errani  (ITA)3 1 7 Flag of Germany.svg  A Kerber  (GER)4 5
Flag of the United States.svg  V Williams  (USA)66 Flag of the United States.svg  V Williams  (USA)66
 Flag of New Zealand.svg  M Erakovic  (NZL)2 1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  A Wozniak  (CAN)1 3
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  A Wozniak  (CAN)66Flag of the United States.svg  V Williams  (USA)6565
 Flag of Kazakhstan (3-2).svg  G Voskoboeva  (KAZ)4 2 7 Flag of Germany.svg  A Kerber  (GER)7777
Flag of Hungary.svg  T Babos  (HUN)66Flag of Hungary.svg  T Babos  (HUN)1 1
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  P Cetkovská  (CZE)1 0r7 Flag of Germany.svg  A Kerber  (GER)66
7 Flag of Germany.svg  A Kerber  (GER)63

Section 2

First round Second round Third round Quarter-finals
4 Flag of the United States.svg  S Williams  (USA)66
Flag of Serbia.svg  J Janković  (SRB)3 1 4 Flag of the United States.svg  S Williams  (USA)66
 Flag of Germany.svg  M Barthel  (GER)4 3 Flag of Poland.svg  U Radwańska  (POL)2 3
Flag of Poland.svg  U Radwańska  (POL)664 Flag of the United States.svg  S Williams  (USA)66
 Flag of Italy.svg  F Schiavone  (ITA)63 613 Flag of Russia.svg  V Zvonareva  (RUS)1 0
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  K Zakopalová  (CZE)3 64 Flag of Italy.svg  F Schiavone  (ITA)3 3
Flag of Sweden.svg  S Arvidsson  (SWE)634 13 Flag of Russia.svg  V Zvonareva  (RUS)66
13 Flag of Russia.svg  V Zvonareva  (RUS)7764 Flag of the United States.svg  S Williams  (USA)66
10 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  N Li  (CHN)2 63 8 Flag of Denmark.svg  C Wozniacki  (DEN)0 3
Flag of Slovakia.svg  D Hantuchová  (SVK)63 6Flag of Slovakia.svg  D Hantuchová  (SVK)66
IP Flag of France.svg  A Cornet  (FRA)776IP Flag of France.svg  A Cornet  (FRA)3 0
Flag of Austria.svg  T Paszek  (AUT)644 Flag of Slovakia.svg  D Hantuchová  (SVK)4 2
 Flag of Spain.svg  A Medina Garrigues  (ESP)2 65 8 Flag of Denmark.svg  C Wozniacki  (DEN)66
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Y Wickmayer  (BEL)64 7Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Y Wickmayer  (BEL)4 63
IP Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  A Keothavong  (GBR)63 2 8 Flag of Denmark.svg  C Wozniacki  (DEN)63 6
8 Flag of Denmark.svg  C Wozniacki  (DEN)4 66

Bottom half

Section 3

First round Second round Third round Quarter-finals
5 Flag of Australia.svg  S Stosur  (AUS)65 8
Flag of Spain.svg  C Suárez Navarro  (ESP)3 710 Flag of Spain.svg  C Suárez Navarro  (ESP)3 3
 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  K Clijsters  (BEL)66Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  K Clijsters  (BEL)66
Flag of Italy.svg  R Vinci  (ITA)1 4 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  K Clijsters  (BEL)66
PR Flag of Hungary.svg  Á Szávay  (HUN)3 3 11 Flag of Serbia.svg  A Ivanovic  (SRB)3 4
IP Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  E Baltacha  (GBR)66IP Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  E Baltacha  (GBR)4 65
Flag of the United States.svg  C McHale  (USA)4 5 11 Flag of Serbia.svg  A Ivanovic  (SRB)677
11 Flag of Serbia.svg  A Ivanovic  (SRB)67Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  K Clijsters  (BEL)2 5
15 Flag of Germany.svg  S Lisicki  (GER)4 673 Flag of Russia.svg  M Sharapova  (RUS)67
IP Flag of Tunisia.svg  O Jabeur  (TUN)60 5 15 Flag of Germany.svg  S Lisicki  (GER)4 67
 Flag of Romania.svg  S Halep  (ROU)4 2 Flag of Kazakhstan (3-2).svg  Y Shvedova  (KAZ)63 5
Flag of Kazakhstan (3-2).svg  Y Shvedova  (KAZ)6615 Flag of Germany.svg  S Lisicki  (GER)7104 3
Alt Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  L Robson  (GBR)7763 Flag of Russia.svg  M Sharapova  (RUS)6866
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  L Šafářová  (CZE)644 Alt Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  L Robson  (GBR)653
Flag of Israel.svg  S Pe'er  (ISR)2 0 3 Flag of Russia.svg  M Sharapova  (RUS)776
3 Flag of Russia.svg  M Sharapova  (RUS)66

Section 4

First round Second round Third round Quarter-finals
6 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  P Kvitová  (CZE)65 6
Flag of Ukraine.svg  K Bondarenko  (UKR)4 74 6 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  P Kvitová  (CZE)72 6
 Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  S-w Hsieh  (TPE)3 775 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  S Peng  (CHN)5 61
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  S Peng  (CHN)66376 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  P Kvitová  (CZE)66
 Flag of Romania.svg  S Cîrstea  (ROU)2 62 Flag of Italy.svg  F Pennetta  (ITA)3 0
Flag of Italy.svg  F Pennetta  (ITA)64 6 Flag of Italy.svg  F Pennetta  (ITA)76
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  T Pironkova  (BUL)776Flag of Bulgaria.svg  T Pironkova  (BUL)5 1
12 Flag of Slovakia.svg  D Cibulková  (SVK)642 6 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  P Kvitová  (CZE)633
14 Flag of Russia.svg  M Kirilenko  (RUS)61 14 Flag of Russia.svg  M Kirilenko  (RUS)776
IP Flag of Colombia.svg  M Duque Mariño  (COL)0 1r14 Flag of Russia.svg  M Kirilenko  (RUS)66
Flag of Spain.svg  S Soler Espinosa  (ESP)2 2 IP Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  H Watson  (GBR)3 2
IP Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  H Watson  (GBR)6614 Flag of Russia.svg  M Kirilenko  (RUS)776
Flag of the United States.svg  V Lepchenko  (USA)7666Flag of Germany.svg  J Görges  (GER)653
INV Flag of Paraguay (1990-2013).svg  V Cepede Royg  (PAR)5 782  Flag of the United States.svg  V Lepchenko  (USA)3 5
Flag of Germany.svg  J Görges  (GER)7656Flag of Germany.svg  J Görges  (GER)67
2 Flag of Poland.svg  A Radwańska  (POL)5 774

References

  1. "Serena completes Golden Slam". ESPN. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  2. "Serena Williams beats Maria Sharapova to secure Olympic tennis gold". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  3. "Azarenka wins bronze for Belarus at London 2012". International Tennis Federation. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  4. "Tennis". London 2012 Organization Committee. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 "Singles, Women". Olympedia. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  6. "Tennis stars excited for London Olympics". The Press Association. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.[ dead link ]
  7. "Women's Singles". BBC . Retrieved 10 July 2012.