# 1986 US Open – Women's singles

Martina Navratilova defeated Helena Suková in the final, 6–3, 6–2 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1986 US Open. It was her third US Open singles title and 15th major singles title overall. Navratilova became the first woman in the Open Era to win a major after saving match points en route, saving three against Steffi Graf in the semifinals.
Hana Mandlíková was the defending champion, but lost in the fourth round to Wendy Turnbull.

## Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Martina Navratilova is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
* Martina Navratilova (champion)
* Chris Evert (semifinalist)
* Steffi Graf (semifinalist)
* Hana Mandlíková (fourth round)
* Pam Shriver (quarterfinalist)
* Claudia Kohde-Kilsch (fourth round)
* Helena Suková (finalist)
* Bonnie Gadusek (quarterfinalist)
* Manuela Maleeva (quarterfinalist)
* Kathy Rinaldi (first round)
* Gabriela Sabatini (fourth round)
* Zina Garrison (fourth round)
* Stephanie Rehe (fourth round)
* Catarina Lindqvist (fourth round)
* Kathy Jordan (fourth round)
* Carling Bassett (first round)

## Draw
### Key

* Q = Qualifier
* WC = Wild card
* LL = Lucky loser
* r = Retired

### Final eight

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Martina Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Pam Shriver | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Pam Shriver | 2 | 4 | 1 | Martina Navratilova | 6 | 6$^3$ | 7$^{10}$ | | | | |
| | | | | 3 | Steffi Graf | 1 | 7$^7$ | 6$^8$ | | | | |
| 3 | Steffi Graf | 6 | 6 | 3 | Steffi Graf | 1 | 7$^7$ | 6$^8$ | | | | |
| 8 | Bonnie Gadusek | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Bonnie Gadusek | 3 | 1 | | | | | | 1 | Martina Navratilova | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | 7 | Helena Suková | 3 | 2 |
| 7 | Helena Suková | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Helena Suková | 3 | 2 |
| | Wendy Turnbull | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Wendy Turnbull | 4 | 0 | 7 | Helena Suková | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | 2 | Chris Evert | 2 | 4 | | | | | |
| 9 | Manuela Maleeva | 2 | 2 | 2 | Chris Evert | 2 | 4 | | | | | |
| 2 | Chris Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |

### Earlier rounds
#### Section 1

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 1 | Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Holíková | 4 | 2 | | 1 | Navratilova | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | |
| | Nagelsen | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | Nagelsen | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | Huber | 4 | 6$^3$ | | | | | | 1 | Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Horvath | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Horvath | 4 | 2 | | | | |
| | Sloane | 3 | 2 | | | Horvath | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Fendick | 6 | 7$^8$ | | | Fendick | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | Thompson | 3 | 6$^6$ | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Navratilova | 6 | 6 |
| | K Maleeva | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Sabatini | 4 | 2 |
| Q | Leo | 3 | 5 | | | K Maleeva | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Byrne | 6 | 6 | | | Byrne | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| WC | Kinney | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | K Maleeva | 5 | 2 | | | | |
| | Casale | 6 | 3 | 7$^7$ | | | | | 11 | Sabatini | 7 | 6 | | | | |
| | Hobbs | 3 | 6 | 6$^4$ | | Casale | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Sabatini | 6 | 6 | | 11 | Sabatini | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Tauziat | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 15 | Jordan | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Sands | 3 | 6 | 3 | 15 | Jordan | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Werdel | 6 | 6 | | | Werdel | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Cecchini | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | 15 | Jordan | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Rush | 6 | | | | | | | | | Minter | 1 | 3 | | | | | |
| | Henricksson | 1 | | | | Rush | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Minter | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | Minter | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Eldredge | 3 | 6$^3$ | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | Jordan | 4 | 4 |
| | Van Nostrand | 4 | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Shriver | 6 | 6 |
| | Kim | 6 | 6$^5$ | 4 | | Van Nostrand | 2 | 6 | 6$^7$ | | | | | | | | | |
| | Burgin | 4 | 6 | 6 | | Burgin | 6 | 2 | 7$^9$ | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Hansel | 6 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | Burgin | 4 | 7 | 2 | | | | |
| | Bartos-Cserepy | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | | | | | 5 | Shriver | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | |
| | Betzner | 1 | 6$^5$ | | | Bartos-Cserepy | 6$^0$ | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Shriver | 6 | 6 | | 5 | Shriver | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Holladay | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 3

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 3 | Graf | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mascarin | 0 | 1 | | 3 | Graf | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Temesvári | 6 | 6 | | | Temesvári | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | White | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | 3 | Graf | 6 | 1 | | | | | | |
| | Bowes | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | | | | | | Bowes | 1 | 0 | r | | | | | |
| | Smith | 2 | 6$^4$ | | | Bowes | 6 | 0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Paradis | 6$^5$ | 6 | 6 | | Paradis | 4 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Villagrán | 7$^7$ | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Graf | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| | Phelps | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Reggi | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| WC | Sodupe | 4 | 4 | | | Phelps | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Reggi | 6 | 6 | | | Reggi | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Vermaak | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | Reggi | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Kuhlman | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | | | | | | Torres | 3 | 2 | | | | | | |
| Q | Barg | 3 | 6$^3$ | | | Kuhlman | 2 | 6$^5$ | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Torres | 6 | 6 | | | Torres | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Rinaldi | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 4

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 13 | Rehe | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | Walsh-Pete | 0 | 3 | | 13 | Rehe | 6 | 4 | 7$^7$ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Macgregor | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | Macgregor | 3 | 6 | 6$^4$ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Cueto | 6$^5$ | 2 | | | | | | | 13 | Rehe | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Louie-Harper | 7 | 2 | 7 | | | | | | | Croft | 2 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | Dias | 5 | 6 | 5 | | Louie-Harper | 0 | 6$^4$ | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Croft | 4 | 6 | 7 | | Croft | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Demongeot | 6 | 0 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | Rehe | 6$^6$ | 6 | 2 |
| | Kelesi | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Gadusek | 7$^8$ | 4 | 6 |
| WC | Whitlinger | 6$^5$ | 4 | | | Kelesi | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bunge | 7 | 6 | | | Bunge | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gompert | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | Kelesi | 7$^7$ | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| | Smylie | 6$^4$ | 7 | 7$^7$ | | | | | | 8 | Gadusek | 6$^4$ | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | McNeil | 7$^7$ | 5 | 6$^4$ | | Smylie | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Gadusek | 7 | 6 | | 8 | Gadusek | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Richardson | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 5

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 7 | Suková | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Drescher | 3 | 2 | | 7 | Suková | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gomer | 6 | 6 | | | Gomer | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kanellopoulou | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | 7 | Suková | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Herr | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | Bonder | 2 | 0 | | | | | |
| WC | Smith | 0 | 1 | | | Herr | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bonder | 6 | 6 | | | Bonder | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Inoue | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Suková | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| | Gurney | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Garrison | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| LL | Antonoplis | 3 | 0 | | | Gurney | 3 | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fairbank | 6 | 2 | 6 | | Fairbank | 6 | 3 | 6$^3$ | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nelson-Dunbar | 4 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | Gurney | 3 | 2 | | | | | |
| | Pfaff | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 12 | Garrison | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| LL | Pérez Roldán | 1 | 1 | | | Pfaff | 7$^7$ | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Garrison | 6 | 6 | | 12 | Garrison | 6$^5$ | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | Russell | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 6

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Moulton | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Bassett | 4 | 6 | 0 | | Moulton | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Turnbull | 4 | 6 | 6 | | Turnbull | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Van Rensburg | 6 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | Turnbull | 3 | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | | | |
| | White | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | Q | Arendt | 6 | 6$^1$ | 1 | | | | | |
| | Goleš | 6 | 4 | 4 | | White | 5 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Arendt | 7 | 2 | 6 | Q | Arendt | 7 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Minter | 5 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | Turnbull | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| | Reinach | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Mandlíková | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| | Shaefer | 3 | 4 | | | Reinach | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Karlsson | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | Karlsson | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Yanagi | 6$^4$ | 2 | | | | | | | | Reinach | 4 | 2 | | | | | | |
| | Budařová | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 4 | Mandlíková | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| WC | A-M Fernandez | 2 | 3 | | | Budařová | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Mandlíková | 6 | 6 | | 4 | Mandlíková | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Calleja | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 7

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 6 | Kohde-Kilsch | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jolissaint | 6$^1$ | 2 | | 6 | Kohde-Kilsch | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Tanvier | 6 | 6 | | | Tanvier | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Porwik | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | 6 | Kohde-Kilsch | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Na | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | Durie | 2 | 3 | | | | | |
| | Herreman | 4 | 2 | | | Na | 1 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Durie | 6 | 4 | 7 | | Durie | 6 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Paz | 4 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Kohde-Kilsch | 2 | 6 | 6$^1$ |
| Q | Hakami | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 9 | M Maleeva | 6 | 2 | 7$^7$ |
| | Medrado | 4 | 6 | 2 | Q | Hakami | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Benjamin | 6 | 3 | 6 | | Benjamin | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Piatek | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | Benjamin | 6$^3$ | 3 | | | | | |
| | Gildemeister | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | 9 | M Maleeva | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | | | |
| | Suire | 6 | 4 | 2 | | Gildemeister | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | M Maleeva | 6 | 6 | | 9 | M Maleeva | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | Reynolds | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 8

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 14 | Lindqvist | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Spence | 1 | 2 | | 14 | Lindqvist | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dingwall | 7$^8$ | 7$^{10}$ | | | Dingwall | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | G Fernández | 6$^6$ | 6$^8$ | | | | | | 14 | Lindqvist | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Scheuer-Larsen | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Scheuer-Larsen | 6 | 2 | 0 | | | | | |
| | Monteiro | 2 | 4 | | | Scheuer-Larsen | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mochizuki | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | Mochizuki | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mundel | 3 | 6$^4$ | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | Lindqvist | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| | Hanika | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Evert | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| | White | 6$^1$ | 2 | | | Hanika | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | MJ Fernández | 3 | 6 | 6 | | MJ Fernández | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Garrone | 6 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | M J Fernández | 4 | 2 | | | | | | |
| | Maršíková | 0 | 6 | 6 | | | | | 2 | Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Krapl | 6 | 3 | 4 | | Maršíková | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Evert | 6 | 6 | | 2 | Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gerken | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |