Even before the action was underway at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, tennis took centre stage when four-time major champion Naomi Osaka was selected to light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony.
What unfolded at Ariake Tennis Park over the next eight days was a memorable and dramatic tennis event, with none of the sport's top stars safe from upsets in any rounds as the action got underway.
In the end, it was unexpected champions in the singles and favourited doubles duos that captured gold with Switzerland's Belinda Bencic triumphing in women's singles; Alexander Zverev of Germany in men's singles; the Czech team of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova in women's doubles; Croatia's Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in men's doubles; and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Andrey Rublev of the ROC in mixed doubles.
Here, a look back at the Olympic tennis week, plus how to watch replays of the action (scroll down), what to watch out for ahead of Paris 2024 and a full list of medallists.
Top 5 tennis moments at Tokyo 2020 in 2021
Here are some of the standout moments from the Olympics in Japan.
Belinda Bencic: Tokyo2020 Medal Moments
1. Golden Swiss miss: Bencic's 'dream come true'
Once a young prodigy and formerly coached by Martina Hingis' mother, Bencic is now 24 and has gone through her fair share of career injuries. But she put together a magical week on court, battling through three sets in each of her final four matches to capture the biggest crown of her career.
Bencic, the No.9 seed, beat Pavlyuchenkova and then Elena Rybakina to advance to the women's singles gold medal match, where she faced Marketa Vondrousova, the Czech player who had stunned Naomi Osaka in the third round. The Swiss star prevailed, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 to win the Olympic gold, falling to the ground in disbelief.
While Vondrousova, a former French Open finalist won silver, it was Ukraine's Elina Svitolina who beat Rybakina to capture the bronze medal.
World No.1 Ashleigh Barty had been eliminated in the first round, and Osaka's loss in the round of 16 joined other top eight seeds Iga Swiatek, Karolina Pliskova, Aryna Sabalenka and Krejcikova in failing to make the quarter-finals.
2. Zverev stuns Djokovic, goes on to win gold medal
All eyes, ears, and camera lenses were on Novak Djokovic as the world's No.1 male player looked in prime position to continue his drive towards the 'Golden Slam' - winning all four of tennis' majors in addition to Olympic gold in the same year. The only player to have ever done so was the great Steffi Graf, in 1988.
Djokovic had won each of the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon coming in, and looked on track with his run to the semi-finals. That's when Zverev, the lanky, powerful German, turned the tables on the Serbian, playing outwardly aggressive tennis and landing the upset of the tournament.
Zverev would continue his hot form in the gold medal match, dismantling Karen Khachanov of the ROC 6-3, 6-1 for Germany's tennis gold since Boris Becker and Michael Stich won doubles at Barcelona 1992.
Tennis Tokyo 2020: Zverev wins men's tennis gold
Undone from his semi-final loss, Djokovic fell to Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain in the bronze medal bout, the Spaniard winning 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3. Djokovic, who won bronze at Beijing 2008, is still looking for his first gold medal at the Games.
No.2 seed Daniil Medvedev fell at the quarter-final stage to Carreno Busta, while No.3 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas lost in the third round to France's Ugo Humbert.
3. Osaka, Barty, Djokovic upset
It was an expect-the-unexpected kind of tennis event, with Osaka and world No.1 Ashleigh Barty both losing early, though Djokovic came within a few games of making the gold medal match - as well as a set from winning the bronze.
The Australian No.1 Barty fell at the opening stage, losing to Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain.
Osaka, open about the pressure she faced as the final torch bearer, won two matches before losing to Vondrousova, who plays crafty, all-court tennis.
Overall, just six of the 16 players seeded in the top eight in the men's and women's draws made it to the quarter-finals.
4. Double(s) trouble: History for Croatia
The men's and women's doubles events were both won by the top seeds, however - though they were joined by unexpected duos on the podium.
Krejcikova and Siniakova continued to show they are the team to beat in the women's game, and denied Bencic a second gold in Tokyo - partnered with Viktorija Golubic. Brazil's Laura Pigossi and Luisa Stefani won bronze, their nation's first tennis medal.
Croatia's Mektic and Pavic won their astounding ninth title in 2021, capping off Olympic gold by beating fellow Croatians Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig in the final. New Zealand's Marcus Daniell and Michael Venus won bronze.
In mixed doubles, Pavlyuchenkova and Rublev also beat their compatriots Elena Vesnina and Aslan Karatsev for gold. Barty and John Peers of Australia won bronze after Djokovic, playing with Nina Stojanovic, withdrew from the mixed doubles contest.
5. Nishikori, Murray lead inspiring stories
While the upsets were aplenty in tennis - so, too, were the inspiring stories.
Having faced a number of injuries in recent years, former world No.4 Nishikori Kei made his way into the quarter-finals of his home Games, only to be stopped by Djokovic, but not before winning three matches, including an upset over No.5 seed Rublev.
Great Britain's Andy Murray showed his unflappable commitment to the Olympics, the two-time singles gold medallist teaming up with Joe Salisbury in doubles. Murray intended to play singles, too, but pulled out before his opening match to focus on the doubles, where he and Salisbury made it all the way to the quarters, losing to Cilic and Dodig in a match tie-break.
Kiki Bertens played her final professional tennis, the Dutch player announcing her retirement. While Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain will retire after the U.S. Open, losing in the second round of singles as well as an emotional doubles second round with Garbine Muguruza.
India's Sania Mirza continued her comeback after giving birth, as well, playing in doubles with Ankita Raina, falling in the first round.
Tokyo 2020 replays: When and where to watch Tennis highlights?
We've got you covered - right here.
What's next for top players - and Paris 2024
The tennis tours are in full swing - and head to summer North American tournaments before the U.S. Open begins in New York.
With the four majors - the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open - being the crown jewels of the sport, tennis kicks on in full capacity as Paris 2024 is less than three years away.
In fact, Roland-Garros, the site used for the French Open, will be host to the Olympic tennis event in 2024. Rafael Nadal, who missed Tokyo due to injury, has won the French a mind-boggling 13 times, so there is chance we could see Rafa there on his favoured clay courts - and Djokovic has already said he'd like to compete for Olympic gold at those Games.
How will the tennis landscape look otherwise? That's something even diehard fans are unsure of as a new generation of men's players push the crop that have long dominated and legendary stars like Serena Williams and Roger Federer are unsure of how much longer they'll play.
One Minute, One Sport | Tennis
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 - Medallists
Women's singles
Gold - Belinda Bencic (SUI)
Silver - Marketa Vondrousova (CZE)
Bronze - Elina Svitolina (UKR)
Men's singles
Gold - Alexander Zverev (GER)
Silver - Karen Khachanov (ROC)
Bronze - Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP)
Women's doubles
Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
Belinda Bencic and Viktorija Golubic (SUI)
Laura Pigossi and Luisa Stefani (BRA)
Men's doubles
Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic (CRO)
Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig (CRO)
Marcus Daniell and Michael Venus (NZL)
Mixed doubles
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Andrey Rublev (ROC)
Elena Vesnina and Aslan Karatsev (ROC)
Ashleigh Barty and John Peers (AUS)
