By Nick Georgandis

The 2012 Olympics marks the seventh straight Games that tennis has been a featured sport, tying the longest span of time that it has been played consecutively at the every-four-years event.

After being a part of the pomp and circumstance from 1896-1924, tennis was removed from the docket before showing up again as an exhibition in 1968 in Mexico City.

It was on display again at Los Angeles in 1984 and returned to full medal status at the 1988 Games in Seoul.

As play dawns this weekend for the 2012 ceremony, we take a look back at the Games that were.

1896: At the initial games in Athens , Greece , there were just two events – men’s singles and doubles -- and a mere 13 competitors -- seven of those from Greece . Because of the relative scarcity of the material at the time, there were no gold medals at those first games -- the champions got silver medals, the runner-ups took bronze, and third place went home empty handed.

Despite the overwhelming propensity of Greeks, Great Britain ’s John Pius Boland (pictured) took the title, defeating Greece ’s Dionysios Kasdaglis, 6-2, 6-2. Boland beat a Greek competitor in each of the four rounds to take the title.

Boland also paired with Germany ’s Friedrich Traun to defeat Kasdgalis and countryman Demetrios Petrokokkinos for the mixed double title. Four years later, Boland wasn’t just limited to Olympic success. He served as a Member of Parliament in the UK ’s House of Commons for 18 years from 1900-1918.

1900: In Paris, the competition expanded to include women’s singles and mixed doubles, and Great Britain flexed its might in all four categories -- winning all championships and adding two runners-up. Every men’s title was won by a man named Doherty -- as Lawrence won the singles and teamed with brother Reginald to take top honors in doubles. The doubles win was hardly a surprise, the pair won the Wimbledon title eight times between 1897-1905. Charlottte Cooper took the women’s singles crown, and paired with, you guessed it, Reginald Doherty to take the mixed doubles title.

(image via)