Puerto Rico's Monica Puig defeated Germany's Angelique Kerber in the final, 6–4, 4–6, 6–1 to win the gold medal in Women's Singles tennis at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

In the bronze medal match, the Czech Republic's Petra Kvitová defeated the United States' Madison Keys 7–5, 2–6, 6–2.

[2] Returning from the 2012 Games were gold medalist Serena Williams of the United States and quarter-finalists Angelique Kerber of Germany, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, and Petra Kvitová of the Czech Republic.

France made its 12th appearance, most among nations to that point, having missed only the 1908 Games in London (when only British players competed).

An additional restriction was that players had to have been part of a nominated team for three Billie Jean King Cup events between 2013 and 2016 (with some exceptions).