It began with grumbles about the strength of the tournament and ended in history.
With only 10 of the top 20 men turning up in Rio, the absentees citing Zika and complaining about a lack of ranking points, the potential was there for an underwhelming event, b ut not a bit of it.
By the end, Rafael Nadal had gone from wondering whether his wrist problem would even allow him to play to claiming a gold medal in doubles, Monica Puig had won a highly unlikely first ever gold for Puerto Rico and Andy Murray had become the first singles player ever to retain an Olympic title.
And then there was Juan Martin Del Potro.
The Argentinian's bad luck, which since earning a bronze medal in London had seen him undergo three wrist operations, looked to have continued when he drew world number one Novak Djokovic in round one.
Djokovic was chasing the one major prize to elude him but Del Potro came up with some stunning tennis to claim victory. Both men left the court in tears.
There were more tears after Del Potro defeated Nadal in a superb semi-final.
The one major disappointment for the tournament had been the lack of crowds but they came out in force when the two former grand slam champions collided in the last four to create a sizzling atmosphere.
It was the same for the final against Murray, with Del Potro's passionate Argentinian support countered by a smattering of Britons and Brazilians cheering against their big rival.
Murray had flirted with disaster against both Fabio Fognini and Steve Johnson but found top form when it mattered.
The final was a clash of styles that lasted a mesmerising four hours and two minutes. Del Potro's haymaker of a forehand meeting Murray's sublime defence and both men running themselves into the ground.
In the end it was Murray who found just enough energy to stumble across the finish line.
The man who had been so honoured to be chosen to carry the British flag at the opening ceremony had delivered again.
Johanna Konta also performed well, reaching the quarter-finals, but elsewhere there was disappointment for Britain, particularly in a first-round exit for Andy and Jamie Murray in the men's doubles.
The biggest surprise of the tournament was undoubtedly Puig's amazing success, the 34th-ranked 22-year-old beating grand slam champions Garbine Muguruza, Petra Kvitova and Angelique Kerber on her way to the title.
Having won double gold in London, Serena Williams left empty-handed but sister Venus added a silver medal to her four golds with Rajeev Ram in the mixed doubles.
As for the absentees, surely there were a few pondering what might have been?
" After watching the Olympics, I hope some of them regret their decision not to go," said Murray. "I felt unbelievably proud to play."
Source: PA
