Belgium's Justine Henin defeated France's Amélie Mauresmo in the final, 6–3, 6–3 to win the gold medal in Women's Singles tennis at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

The United States' three-Games gold medal streak at the event ended, with no American players reaching the quarter-finals.

1 Serena Williams had committed to playing this event, but withdrew one week before the tournament began due to a left knee injury.

[4] Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Puerto Rico, Serbia and Montenegro, and Ukraine each made their debut in the event.

France made its ninth appearance, most among nations to that point, having missed only the 1908 Games in London (when only British players competed).

The tournament featured a total of 64 players with 48 qualifying on their WTA World Ranking on 14 June and two received invitations from the Tripartite Commission.