The 7 countries to win multiple tennis Olympic Gold medals in Open Era: USA out in front
Olympic anticipation is building, with less than two weeks until action gets underway at Paris 2024.
Tennis at Roland Garros promises to be a must-watch, with some of the biggest stars in tennis – and sport in general – battling it out for gold on Phillipe Chatrier.
Several nations have found success in tennis since the sport returned to the Olympics in 1988, with seven nations winning multiple gold medals.
United States – 14
America is the most successful nation in Olympic history, so it is no surprise it has had more success than any other nation in tennis – with 14 gold medals won since 1988.
At Seoul 1988 they picked up both doubles golds, with Ken Flach and Robert Seguso winning the men’s, and Pam Shriver and Zina Garrison winning the women’s.
Gigi Fernandez and Mary Joe Fernandez then won back-to-back golds in Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996, while Jennifer Capriati won the women’s singles in 1992, and Lindsay Davenport and Andre Agassi both won singles gold at home in Atlanta.
Four years later, Venus and Serena Williams won the first of their three doubles golds at Syndey 2000, also triumphing at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
Venus also won singles gold in Sydney, while Serena did the same in London.
Bob and Mike Bryan claimed the men’s doubles title at London 2012, and Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock triumphed in the mixed doubles at Rio 2016.
Alongside their gold medals, they have won three silvers and seven bronzes.
Germany – 3
Another strong tennis nation, Germany is one of three countries that have won three Olympic gold medals since the sport was reintroduced.
The first came at Seoul 1988, when Steffi Graf capped off one of the greatest seasons in history by beating Gabriela Sabatini for women’s singles gold, completing the ‘Golden Calendar Slam’.
Four years later, Boris Becker and Michael Stich – two players best known for their singles exploits – won the men’s doubles title in Barcelona, before Alexander Zverev won men’s singles gold at Tokyo 2020.
German players have also taken home four silver medals and two bronzes.
The 7 tennis players to win Olympic gold – but not a Grand Slam singles title
Russia – 3
Russia’s involvement in Olympic action has naturally been controversial in recent years, but they have made a significant impact in tennis.
Their first Olympic gold medallist was Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who won men’s singles gold in Sydney, beating Tommy Haas in the final.
Eight years after winning Olympic silver in Sydney, Elena Dementieva struck gold at Beijing 2008 – leading a Russian clean sweep of the women’s singles medals.
That was followed by women’s doubles gold in Rio 2016, with Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova winning the title.
The nation has won eight medals under its flag, and Russian-born players won gold and two silvers in Tokyo – though these are technically not counted as Russian medals.
Switzerland – 3
One of the biggest emerging tennis powers of the past three decades, Switzerland has also found huge success in its Olympic tennis quest.
Marc Rosset is one of the more surprising tennis gold medallists in history, winning a surprise men’s singles title at the Barcelona 1992 Games.
That was then followed by men’s doubles gold at Beijing 2008, with Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka combining to win what would be the only Olympic gold of either man’s career.
Three years ago in Tokyo, Belinda Bencic won the biggest title of her career, downing Marketa Vondrousova for women’s singles gold.
Alongside those three gold medals, Switzerland has claimed three silver medals.
Spain – 2
Spain has claimed two Olympic gold medals post-1988, both won by Rafael Nadal.
Amid one of the most successful spells of his career in 2008, Nadal stormed men’s singles gold in Beijing, downing Fernando Gonzalez in the final.
Eight years later he again struck gold, combining with Marc Lopez to win the men’s doubles title in Rio.
Only the US has won more medals than Spain in the Open Era, with a further seven silvers and four bronzes in their collection.
Great Britain – 2
Much like Spain, both of Great Britain’s golds have stemmed from one player – Andy Murray.
The former world No 1 memorably claimed the men’s singles title in front of his home crowd at London 2012, downing Federer in straight sets for the title.
Four years later, he became the first – and currently only – player to successfully defend a singles gold medal, beating Juan Martin del Potro in the Rio 2016 final.
Murray and Laura Robson also won Olympic silver in mixed doubles at London 2012, one of two silvers the nation has won.
Chile – 2
One of the most incredible feats in Olympic history was Nicolas Massu’s double for Chile at the Athens 2004 games.
He and Gonzalez paired up for men’s doubles gold, while he then beat Mardy Fish for the men’s singles title as well.
Gonzalez also won a singles bronze in Athens before his Beijing silver.
