List of US Open women's singles champions

The US Open women's singles championship is an annual tennis event that has been held since 1887 as part of the US Open[a][b] tournament. The tournament is played on outdoor hard courts[c] at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows – Corona Park, New York City.[6][1]

US Open women's singles champions
LocationQueens – New York City
United States
VenueUSTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Governing bodyUSTA
Created1887; 137 years ago (1887)
Editions137 events (2023)
56 events (Open Era)
SurfaceGrass (1887–1974)
Clay (1975–1977)
Hard (1978–present)
Prize moneyTotal: US$60,102,000 (2022)
Winner: US$2,600,000 (2022)
TrophyUS Open Trophy
WebsiteOfficial website
Most titles
Amateur era8: Molla Bjurstedt Mallory
Open era6: Chris Evert
6: Serena Williams
Most consecutive titles
Amateur era4: Molla Bjurstedt Mallory
4: Helen Jacobs
Open era4: Chris Evert
Current champion
Coco Gauff
(First title)

The US Open is played during a two-week period in late August and early September and has been chronologically the last of the four Grand Slam tournaments of the tennis year since 1987.[3] The Philadelphia Cricket Club (1887–1920) and Forest Hills (1921–1977) hosted the event before it settled in 1978 at its current site.[2] The United States Tennis Association is the national body that organizes this event.

The champion receives a full-size replica of the event's trophy engraved with her name.[7] In 2022, the winner received prize money of US$2,600,000.

History

The format of the women's singles event has undergone several changes since the first edition. From 1888 through 1918, the event started with a knockout phase, the All-Comers singles, whose winner faced the defending champion in a challenge round.[8] The All-Comers winner was awarded the title by default six times (1893, 1899, 1900, 1905, 1906 and 1907) in the absence of the previous year's champion. The challenge round system was abolished with the 1919 edition.[9] Since 1887, all matches have been played as the best-of-three sets, except in the eleven-year period from 1891 until 1901, when the challenge round was scored the best-of-five-sets.[9] From 1894 until 1901 the women were required to play best-of-five sets in both the all-comers final and the challenge round.[10]

Format

Since 1887, the winner of the next game at five-games–all took the set in every match except the All-Comers final and the challenge round, which was won by the player who had won at least six games and at least two games more than his opponent. This advantage format was introduced for the final sets of early rounds, for women starting in 1887, and used for all sets in final rounds from 1887 through 1969.[11] The tie-break system was introduced in 1970 for all sets, in its best-of-nine points sudden death version until 1974, and in its best-of-12 points lingering death version since 1975.[11][4][12] The US Open is the only Grand Slam tournament to have a third set tie-break, which has occurred twice in women's singles finals in 1981 and in 1985.[3]

Surface

The court surface changed twice, from grass (1887–1974), to Har-Tru clay (1975–1977), to hard courts since 1978.[13] No women's tennis player won the event on all three surfaces, and no women's tennis player won it on both grass and clay. Chris Evert was the only one to win the event on clay and on hard court, thereby making her the only woman to win on two different surfaces at the event.

Finals

Key
Regular competition
All Comers' winner, Challenge round winner ‡
Defending champion, Challenge round winner †
All Comers' winner, no Challenge round ◊

U.S. National Championships

Elisabeth Moore is a four-time champion
Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman is a four-time champion
Molla Bjurstedt Mallory's eight US singles championships is the all–time record among both men and women.
Helen Wills Moody is a seven-time champion
Maureen Connolly Brinker was a three-time champion
Margaret Court is a five time champion
Year[d]CountryChampionCountryRunner–upScore[14]
1887  USAEllen Hansell  USALaura Knight6–1, 6–0
1888  USABertha Townsend ‡  USAEllen Hansell6–3, 6–5
1889  USABertha Townsend † (2)  USALida Voorhees7–5, 6–2
1890  USAEllen Roosevelt ‡  USABertha Townsend6–2, 6–2
1891  BRIMabel Cahill ‡  USAEllen Roosevelt6–4, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3
1892  BRIMabel Cahill † (2)  USAElisabeth Moore5–7, 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2
1893  USAAline Terry ◊  USAAugusta Schultz6–1, 6–3
1894  USAHelen Hellwig ‡  USAAline Terry7–5, 3–6, 6–0, 3–6, 6–3
1895  USAJuliette Atkinson ‡  USAHelen Hellwig6–4, 6–2, 6–1
1896  USAElisabeth Moore ‡  USAJuliette Atkinson6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 6–2
1897  USAJuliette Atkinson ‡ (2)  USAElisabeth Moore6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 3–6, 6–3
1898  USAJuliette Atkinson † (3)  USAMarion Jones6–3, 5–7, 6–4, 2–6, 7–5
1899  USAMarion Jones ◊  USAMaud Banks6–1, 6–1, 7–5
1900  USAMyrtle McAteer ◊  USAEdith Parker6–2, 6–2, 6–0
1901  USAElisabeth Moore ‡ (2)  USAMyrtle McAteer6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 2–6, 6–2
1902  USAMarion Jones ‡ (2)  USAElisabeth Moore6–1, 1–0, retired
1903  USAElisabeth Moore ‡ (3)  USAMarion Jones7–5, 8–6
1904  USAMay Sutton ‡  USAElisabeth Moore6–1, 6–2
1905  USAElisabeth Moore ◊ (4)  USAHelen Homans6–4, 5–7, 6–1
1906  USAHelen Homans ◊  USAMaud Barger-Wallach6–4, 6–3
1907  USAEvelyn Sears ◊  USACarrie Neely6–3, 6–2
1908  USAMaud Barger-Wallach ‡  USAEvelyn Sears6–3, 1–6, 6–3
1909  USAHazel Hotchkiss Wightman ‡  USAMaud Barger-Wallach6–0, 6–1
1910  USAHazel Hotchkiss Wightman † (2)  USALouise Hammond Raymond6–4, 6–2
1911  USAHazel Hotchkiss Wightman † (3)  USAFlorence Sutton8–10, 6–1, 9–7
1912  USAMary Browne ‡  USAEleonora Sears6–4, 6–2
1913  USAMary Browne † (2)  USADorothy Green6–2, 7–5
1914  USAMary Browne † (3)  USAMarie Wagner6–2, 1–6, 6–1
1915  NORMolla Bjurstedt ‡  USAHazel Hotchkiss Wightman4–6, 6–2, 6–0
1916  NORMolla Bjurstedt † (2)  USALouise Hammond Raymond6–0, 6–1
1917[e]  NORMolla Bjurstedt † (3)  USAMarion Vanderhoef4–6, 6–0, 6–2
1918  NORMolla Bjurstedt † (4)  USAEleanor Goss6–4, 6–3
1919  USAHazel Hotchkiss Wightman (4)  USAMarion Zinderstein6–1, 6–2
1920  USAMolla Mallory (5)  USAMarion Zinderstein6–3, 6–1
1921  USAMolla Mallory (6)  USAMary Browne4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1922  USAMolla Mallory (7)  USAHelen Wills6–3, 6–1
1923  USAHelen Wills  USAMolla Mallory6–2, 6–1
1924  USAHelen Wills (2)  USAMolla Mallory6–1, 6–3
1925  USAHelen Wills (3)  GBRKitty McKane Godfree3–6, 6–0, 6–2
1926  USAMolla Mallory (8)  USAElizabeth Ryan4–6, 6–4, 9–7
1927  USAHelen Wills (4)  GBRBetty Nuthall6–1, 6–4
1928  USAHelen Wills (5)  USAHelen Jacobs6–2, 6–1
1929  USAHelen Wills (6)  GBRPhoebe Holcroft Watson6–4, 6–2
1930  GBRBetty Nuthall  USAAnna McCune Harper6–1, 6–4
1931  USAHelen Wills Moody (7)  GBREileen Bennett6–4, 6–1
1932  USAHelen Jacobs  USACarolin Babcock6–2, 6–2
1933  USAHelen Jacobs (2)  USAHelen Wills Moody8–6, 3–6, 3–0, retired
1934  USAHelen Jacobs (3)  USASarah Palfrey Cooke6–1, 6–4
1935  USAHelen Jacobs (4)  USASarah Palfrey Cooke6–2, 6–4
1936  USAAlice Marble  USAHelen Jacobs4–6, 6–3, 6–2
1937  CHIAnita Lizana  POLJadwiga Jędrzejowska6–4, 6–2
1938  USAAlice Marble (2)  AUSNancye Wynne Bolton6–0, 6–3
1939  USAAlice Marble (3)  USAHelen Jacobs6–0, 8–10, 6–4
1940  USAAlice Marble (4)  USAHelen Jacobs6–2, 6–3
1941  USASarah Palfrey Cooke  USAPauline Betz7–5, 6–2
1942  USAPauline Betz  USALouise Brough4–6, 6–1, 6–4
1943  USAPauline Betz (2)  USALouise Brough6–3, 5–7, 6–3
1944  USAPauline Betz (3)  USAMargaret Osborne6–3, 8–6
1945  USASarah Palfrey Cooke (2)  USAPauline Betz3–6, 8–6, 6–4
1946  USAPauline Betz (4)  USADoris Hart11–9, 6–3
1947  USALouise Brough  USAMargaret Osborne8–6, 4–6, 6–1
1948  USAMargaret Osborne  USALouise Brough4–6, 6–4, 15–13
1949  USAMargaret Osborne (2)  USADoris Hart6–3, 6–1
1950  USAMargaret Osborne (3)  USADoris Hart6–4, 6–3
1951  USAMaureen Connolly  USAShirley Fry6–3, 1–6, 6–4
1952  USAMaureen Connolly (2)  USADoris Hart6–3, 7–5
1953  USAMaureen Connolly (3)  USADoris Hart6–2, 6–4
1954  USADoris Hart  USALouise Brough6–8, 6–1, 8–6
1955  USADoris Hart (2)  GBRPatricia Ward Hales6–4, 6–2
1956  USAShirley Fry  USAAlthea Gibson6–3, 6–4
1957  USAAlthea Gibson  USALouise Brough6–3, 6–2
1958  USAAlthea Gibson (2)  USADarlene Hard3–6, 6–1, 6–2
1959  BRAMaria Bueno  GBRChristine Truman6–1, 6–4
1960  USADarlene Hard  BRAMaria Bueno6–4, 10–12, 6–4
1961  USADarlene Hard (2)  GBRAnn Haydon6–3, 6–4
1962  AUSMargaret Smith  USADarlene Hard9–7, 6–4
1963  BRAMaria Bueno (2)  AUSMargaret Smith7–5, 6–4
1964  BRAMaria Bueno (3)  USACarole Caldwell Graebner6–1, 6–0
1965  AUSMargaret Smith (2)  USABillie Jean Moffitt8–6, 7–5
1966  BRAMaria Bueno (4)  USANancy Richey6–3, 6–1
1967  USABillie Jean King  GBRAnn Haydon Jones11–9, 6–4

US Open

Billie Jean King is a four-time champion overall and a three-time champion in the open era, and won three in four-year timespan
American Chris Evert won an Open Era record four consecutive titles at the US Open between 1975 and 1978, and a record six overall (shared with Serena Williams) with victories in 1980 and 1982.
Steffi Graf is a five-time champion.
Serena Williams is a six-time champion, winning these over a fifteen-year period. She shares the Open Era titles record with Chris Evert.
Year[d]CountryChampionCountryRunner-upScore[14]
1968  GBRVirginia Wade  USABillie Jean King6–4, 6–2
1969  AUSMargaret Court (3)  USANancy Richey6–2, 6–2
1970  AUSMargaret Court (4)  USARosemary Casals6–2, 2–6, 6–1
1971  USABillie Jean King (2)  USARosemary Casals6–4, 7–6(5–2)
1972  USABillie Jean King (3)  AUSKerry Melville6–3, 7–5
1973  AUSMargaret Court (5)  AUSEvonne Goolagong7–6(5–2), 5–7, 6–2
1974  USABillie Jean King (4)  AUSEvonne Goolagong3–6, 6–3, 7–5
1975  USAChris Evert  AUSEvonne Goolagong 5–7, 6–4, 6–2
1976  USAChris Evert (2)  AUSEvonne Goolagong6–3, 6–0
1977  USAChris Evert (3)  AUSWendy Turnbull7–6(7–3), 6–2
1978  USAChris Evert (4)  USAPam Shriver7–5, 6–4
1979  USATracy Austin  USAChris Evert6–4, 6–3
1980  USAChris Evert (5)  TCH[f]Hana Mandlíková5–7, 6–1, 6–1
1981  USATracy Austin (2)  USAMartina Navratilova[g]1–6, 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–1)
1982  USAChris Evert (6)  TCHHana Mandlíková6–3, 6–1
1983  USAMartina Navratilova  USAChris Evert6–1, 6–3
1984  USAMartina Navratilova (2)  USAChris Evert4–6, 6–4, 6–4
1985  TCH[f]Hana Mandlíková  USAMartina Navratilova7–6(7–3), 1–6, 7–6(7–2)
1986  USAMartina Navratilova (3)  TCHHelena Suková6–3, 6–2
1987  USAMartina Navratilova (4)  FRGSteffi Graf7–6(7–4), 6–1
1988  FRG[h]Steffi Graf  ARGGabriela Sabatini6–3, 3–6, 6–1
1989  FRG[h]Steffi Graf (2)  USAMartina Navratilova3–6, 7–5, 6–1
1990  ARGGabriela Sabatini  FRGSteffi Graf6–2, 7–6(7–4)
1991  YUGMonica Seles  USAMartina Navratilova7–6(7–1), 6–1
1992  YUG[i]Monica Seles (2)  ESPArantxa Sánchez Vicario6–3, 6–3
1993  GERSteffi Graf (3)  CZEHelena Suková6–3, 6–3
1994  ESPArantxa Sánchez Vicario  GERSteffi Graf1–6, 7–6(7–3), 6–4
1995  GERSteffi Graf (4)  USAMonica Seles7–6(8–6), 0–6, 6–3
1996  GERSteffi Graf (5)  USAMonica Seles7–5, 6–4
1997   SUIMartina Hingis  USAVenus Williams6–0, 6–4
1998  USALindsay Davenport   SUIMartina Hingis6–3, 7–5
1999  USASerena Williams   SUIMartina Hingis6–3, 7–6(7–4)
2000  USAVenus Williams  USALindsay Davenport6–4, 7–5
2001  USAVenus Williams (2)  USASerena Williams6–2, 6–4
2002  USASerena Williams (2)  USAVenus Williams6–4, 6–3
2003  BELJustine Henin  BELKim Clijsters7–5, 6–1
2004  RUSSvetlana Kuznetsova  RUSElena Dementieva6–3, 7–5
2005  BELKim Clijsters  FRAMary Pierce6–3, 6–1
2006  RUSMaria Sharapova  BELJustine Henin6–4, 6–4
2007  BELJustine Henin (2)  RUSSvetlana Kuznetsova6–1, 6–3
2008  USASerena Williams (3)  SRBJelena Janković6–4, 7–5
2009  BELKim Clijsters (2)  DENCaroline Wozniacki7–5, 6–3
2010  BELKim Clijsters (3)  RUSVera Zvonareva6–2, 6–1
2011  AUSSamantha Stosur  USASerena Williams6–2, 6–3
2012  USASerena Williams (4)  BLRVictoria Azarenka6–2, 2–6, 7–5
2013  USASerena Williams (5)  BLRVictoria Azarenka7–5, 6–7(6–8), 6–1
2014  USASerena Williams (6)  DENCaroline Wozniacki6–3, 6–3
2015  ITAFlavia Pennetta  ITARoberta Vinci7–6(7–4), 6–2
2016  GERAngelique Kerber  CZEKarolína Plíšková6–3, 4–6, 6–4
2017  USASloane Stephens  USAMadison Keys6–3, 6–0
2018  JPNNaomi Osaka  USASerena Williams6–2, 6–4
2019  CANBianca Andreescu  USASerena Williams6–3, 7–5
2020  JPNNaomi Osaka (2)  BLRVictoria Azarenka1–6, 6–3, 6–3
2021  GBREmma Raducanu  CANLeylah Fernandez6–4, 6–3
2022  POLIga Świątek  TUNOns Jabeur6–2, 7–6(7–5)
2023  USACoco Gauff [j]Aryna Sabalenka2–6, 6–3, 6–2

Statistics

In the U.S. National Championships, under the challenge round format, Elisabeth Moore (1896, 1901, 1903, 1905) holds the record for most singles titles with four and Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman (1909–1911) holds the record for most consecutive women's singles titles at three. With four consecutive singles titles each, Molla Bjurstedt Mallory (1915–1918) and Helen Jacobs (1932–1935) hold the record for most consecutive women's singles titles won after the challenge round format was abolished. Bjurstedt Mallory's eight singles titles (1915–1918, 1920–1922, 1926) is the all-time record.[3]

During the US Open, since the inclusion of the professional tennis players, Chris Evert (1975–1978) holds the record for most consecutive women's singles titles at four and the record for most overall titles at six (1975–1978, 1980, 1982) with Serena Williams (1999, 2002, 2008, 2012–2014).[3]

This event has been won without losing a set during the open era by Margaret Court in 1969, Billie Jean King in 1971 and 1972, Evert in 1976, 1977 and 1978, Martina Navratilova in 1983 and 1987, Monica Seles in 1992, Steffi Graf in 1996, Martina Hingis in 1997, Lindsay Davenport in 1998, Venus Williams in 2001, Serena Williams in 2002, 2008 and 2014, Justine Henin in 2007 and Emma Raducanu in 2021.

Multiple champions

Title defended in the challenge round
PlayerAmateur EraOpen EraAll-timeYears
   Molla Bjurstedt Mallory (USA) (NOR)8081915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1926
 Helen Wills Moody (USA)7071923, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931
 Chris Evert (USA)0661975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982
 Serena Williams (USA)0661999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014
 Margaret Court (AUS)2351962, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1973
 Steffi Graf (GER)[h]0551988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996
 Elisabeth Moore (USA)4041896, 1901, 1903, 1905
 Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman (USA)4041909, 1910, 1911, 1919
 Helen Jacobs (USA)4041932, 1933, 1934, 1935
 Alice Marble (USA)4041936, 1938, 1939, 1940
 Pauline Betz (USA)4041942, 1943, 1944, 1946
 Maria Bueno (BRA)4041959, 1963, 1964, 1966
 Billie Jean King (USA)1341967, 1971, 1972, 1974
 Martina Navratilova (USA)[g]0441983, 1984, 1986, 1987
 Juliette Atkinson (USA)3031895, 1897, 1898
 Mary Browne (USA)3031912, 1913, 1914
 Margaret Osborne duPont (USA)3031948, 1949, 1950
 Maureen Connolly (USA)3031951, 1952, 1953
 Kim Clijsters (BEL)0332005, 2009, 2010
 Bertha Townsend (USA)2021888, 1889
 Mabel Cahill (GBR)2021891, 1892
 Marion Jones (USA)2021899, 1902
 Sarah Palfrey Cooke (USA)2021941, 1945
 Doris Hart (USA)2021954, 1955
 Althea Gibson (USA)2021957, 1958
 Darlene Hard (USA)2021960, 1961
 Tracy Austin (USA)0221979, 1981
   Monica Seles (SCG) (YUG)0221991, 1992
 Venus Williams (USA)0222000, 2001
 Justine Henin (BEL)0222003, 2007
 Naomi Osaka (JPN)0222018, 2020

Champions by country

Former country ¤
CountryAmateur EraOpen EraAll-timeFirst titleLast title
 United States67269318872023
 Australia24619622011
 Germany[h]06619882016
 Belgium05520032010
 Great Britain[k]32518912021
 Brazil40419591966
 Norway40419151918
 Russia02220042006
 Japan02220182020
 Argentina01119901990
 Italy01120152015
 Serbia and Montenegro[i] ¤01119921992
 Yugoslavia ¤01119911991
 Canada01120192019
 Chile10119371937
 Czechoslovakia[f] ¤01119851985
 Poland01120222022
 Spain01119941994
  Switzerland01119971997

See also

US Open other competitions

Grand Slam women's singles

Notes

References

General
  • "History > Women's Singles Championships". usopen.org. IBM, United States Tennis Association. Archived from the original on February 4, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2010.
  • "US National/US Open Championships" (PDF). usta.com. United States Tennis Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 12, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
Specific