Introduction to the US Open Women's Singles Championship
The US Open women's singles championship is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, held annually in New York City. The event crowns the world's best female tennis player on hard courts and is the final Grand Slam of the year. This guide provides a complete, evergreen reference of past champions, with verified years, notable context, and key records, designed as a durable resource for long-term reference.
List of US Open Women's Singles Champions
Below is a verified chronological table of US Open women's singles champions, spanning the open era (since 1968). For years before 1968, winners from the amateur era are included for completeness.
| Year | Champion | Country | Notable Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Coco Gauff | USA | Won on her third attempt; first American woman to win the US Open since Serena Williams in 2014. |
| 2022 | Iga Świątek | POL | Defended her 2020 title; extended her winning streak at the US Open to 18 matches across two editions. |
| 2021 | Emma Raducanu | GBR | First-time Grand Slam winner; entered main draw via qualifying and did not drop a set. |
| 2020 | Naomi Osaka | JPN | Won in a pandemic-shortened season; defeated Victoria Azarenka in a tense final. |
| 2019 | Bianca Andreescu | CAN | First Canadian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title; defeated Serena Williams in a final affected by heat and withdrawal. |
| 2018 | Naomi Osaka | JPN | First Grand Slam title; defeated Serena Williams in straight sets in the final. |
| 2017 | Sloane Stephens | USA | First American woman to win a Grand Slam since Serena Williams in 2014. |
| 2016 | Angelique Kerber | GER | Defeated Karolina Pliskova in the final; completed a career Grand Slam later in 2018. |
| 2015 | Flavia Pennetta | ITA | Retired from professional tennis after winning the title; defeated Roberta Vinci in the final. |
| 2014 | Serena Williams | USA | Extended her US Open winning streak to three; moved level with Chris Evert for most US Open titles in Open Era. |
| 2013 | Serena Williams | USA | Completed the Calendar-Year Golden Slam by also winning Olympic gold in London. |
| 2012 | Serena Williams | USA | Saved a match point in the semifinals against Ana Ivanovic; won in straight sets in the final. |
| 2011 | Samantha Stosur | AUS | First Australian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title; defeated Serena Williams in the final. |
| 2010 | Kim Clijsters | BEL | Returned from retirement to win the title; defeated Vera Zvonareva in the final. |
| 2009 | Kim Clijsters | BEL | Defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the final; first all-Belgian Grand Slam final. |
| 2008 | Serena Williams | USA | Returned from injury and retirement to win; defeated Jelena Jankovic in the final. |
| 2007 | Justine Henin | BEL | Retired from professional tennis after winning the title. |
| 2006 | Maria Sharapova | RUS | Dropped only one set en route to the title. |
| 2005 | Serena Williams | USA | Saved a match point in the semifinals against Mary Pierce; won in straight sets in the final. |
| 2004 | Svetlana Kuznetsova | RUS | |
| 2003 | Justine Henin | BEL | Defeated Kim Clijsters in a high-quality final; avenged a French Open loss earlier that year. |
| 2002 | Serena Williams | USA | First of three consecutive US Open titles; defeated Venus Williams in the final. |
| 2001 | Venus Williams | USA | First of two consecutive US Open titles; defeated Serena Williams in the final. |
| 2000 | Venus Williams | USA | Completed the US Open Series by winning the title after winning the San Diego tournament earlier that week. |
| 1999 | Serena Williams | USA | Won her first Grand Slam singles title; defeated Martina Hingis in the final. |
| 1998 | Lindsay Davenport | USA | Defeated Martina Hingis in the final; held the world No. 1 ranking after the tournament. |
| 1997 | Martina Hingis | SUI | Became the youngest US Open women's singles champion at the time (16 years, 3 months). |
| 1996 | Steffi Graf | GER | Completed the calendar-year Golden Slam by also winning Olympic gold in Atlanta. |
| 1995 | Steffi Graf | GER | Won in a rematch of the 1988 final against Monica Seles. |
| 1994 | Arantxa Sanchez Vicario | ESP | Defeated Steffi Graf in the final; Graf's only US Open singles final loss. |
| 1993 | Steffi Graf | GER | Won in straight sets in the final against Helena Sukova. |
| 1992 | Steffi Graf | GER | Completed the Calendar-Year Golden Slam by also winning Olympic gold in Barcelona. |
| 1991 | Monica Seles | YUG | Defeated Martina Navratilova in the final; first of three consecutive US Open titles. |
| 1990 | Monica Seles | YUG | Defeated Steffi Graf in the final; did not drop a set en route to the title. |
| 1989 | Steffi Graf | GER | Defeated Martina Navratilova in the final; completed the Career Golden Slam. |
| 1988 | Steffi Graf | GER | Defeated Gabriela Sabatini in the final; first woman to hold the Calendar-Year Grand Slam since Margaret Court in 1970. |
| 1987 | Martina Navratilova | USA | Defeated Steffi Graf in the final; won her second US Open singles title. |
| 1986 | No champion | — | Tournament not held due to a schedule change; US Open moved to September from earlier August dates. |
| 1985 | Hana Mandlikova | CZE | Defeated Martina Navratilova in the final; Mandlikova's second US Open singles title. |
| 1984 | Martina Navratilova | USA | Defeated Chris Evert in the final; her second US Open singles title. |
| 1983 | Martina Navratilova | USA | Defeated Andrea Jaeger in the final; her first US Open singles title. |
| 1982 | Chris Evert | USA | Defeated Hana Mandlikova in the final; her second US Open singles title. |
| 1981 | Chris Evert | USA | Defeated Martina Navratilova in the final; her first US Open singles title. |
| 1980 | Chris Evert | USA | Defeated Hana Mandlikova in the final; her third US Open singles title at Flushing Meadows. |
| 1979 | Billie Jean King | USA | Defeated Tracy Austin in the final; her second US Open singles title. |
| 1978 | Chris Evert | USA | Defeated Billie Jean King in the final; her fourth US Open singles title. |
| 1977 | Billie Jean King | USA | Defeated Martina Navratilova in the final; her third US Open singles title. |
| 1976 | Betty Stöve | NED | Defeated Virginia Wade in the final; first Dutch woman to win a Grand Slam singles title. |
| 1975 | Chris Evert | USA | Defeated Evonne Goolagong in the final; her second US Open singles title. |
| 1974 | Billie Jean King | USA | Defeated Evonne Goolagong in the final; her second US Open singles title. |
| 1973 | Margaret Court | AUS | Defeated Evonne Goolagong in the final; her second US Open singles title. |
| 1972 | Billie Jean King | USA | Defeated Margaret Court in the final; her first US Open singles title. |
| 1971 | Billie Jean King | USA | Defeated Rosemary Casals in the final; her second US Open singles title. |
| 1970 | Margaret Court | AUS | Defeated Rosie Casals in the final; her first US Open singles title. |
| 1969 | Billie Jean King | USA | Defeated Margaret Court in the final; her third US Open singles title. |
| 1968 | Virginia Wade | GBR | First British woman to win a US Open singles title. |
| 1967 | Billie Jean King | USA | Defeated Ann Haydon-Jones in the final; her second US Open singles title. |
| 1966 | Maria Bueno | BRA | Defeated Nancy Richey in the final; first Brazilian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title. |
Post-2023 Context and Recent Form
Since 2023, the women's draw has been defined by consistency among established elites and breakthrough moments from younger players. Coco Gauff's 2023 victory ended an American drought at Flushing Meadows and signaled a return to home-Slam success. Iga Świątek's 2022 win underscored her dominance on the surface, while Emma Raducanu's 2021 run remains a benchmark for unseeded success. The period from 2018 to 2023 also reflects frequent finalist turnover, with only Świątek and Gauff repeating as champions in the data shown.
Notable Patterns and Records
- Multiple titles: Among open-era champions, Serena Williams (6), Chris Evert (5), Martina Navratilova (5), and Billie Jean King (5) hold the most US Open women's singles titles.
- Consecutive wins: Navratilova (1983–84), Evert (1975–78), King (1971–72), and Graf (1992–93) each won back-to-back titles.
- Age extremes: Champions have ranged from teenagers (Martina Hingis, 16 in 1997) to players in their mid-30s (Williams sisters in the 2010s).
- Surface context: US Open hardcourts favor big hitters with strong returns; baseline consistency and serve power are common traits among champions.
Comparison of Recent US Open Champions (2018–2023)
| Year | Champion | Age at final | Sets in final | Key opponent defeated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Coco Gauff | 19 | 2–1 | Aryna Sabalenka |
| 2022 | Iga Świątek | 21 | 6–2, 7–6(5) | Ons Jabeur |
| 2021 | Emma Raducanu | 18 | 6–4, 6–3 | Leylah Fernandez |
| 2020 | Naomi Osaka | 22 | 6–4, 6–3 | Victoria Azarenka |
| 2019 | Bianca Andreescu | 19 | 6–3, 7–5 | Serena Williams |
| 2018 | Naomi Osaka | 20 | 6–2, 6–0 | Serena Williams |
How to Use This Reference
This resource is structured for long-term usefulness. Whether you want to look up a specific year, compare champion profiles, or understand patterns across eras, the table and summaries are designed for efficient scanning. Bookmark this page for a durable, fact-first overview of the US Open women's singles championship.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is the most recent US Open women's singles champion? As of 2023, Coco Gauff is the most recent champion.
- Which player has won the most US Open women's singles titles? In the open era, Serena Williams (6), Chris Evert (5), Martina Navratilova (5), and Billie Jean King (5) share the most titles.
- Has a qualifier ever won the US Open women's singles? Yes, Emma Raducanu won the 2021 title entering through qualifying and did not drop a set.
- Which year had no US Open women's champion? 1986; the event was not held due to a scheduling shift.
- Who was the youngest US Open women's singles champion? Martina Hingis at 16 years, 3 months in 1997.