# 1978 US Open – Women's singles

Three-time defending champion Chris Evert defeated Pam Shriver in the final, 7–5, 6–4 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1978 US Open. It was her fourth consecutive US Open title (an Open Era record), her fourth US Open singles title overall, and her eighth major singles title overall. For the third consecutive year, Evert did not lose a set during the tournament. At 16 years and two months of age, Shriver was the youngest major finalist in the Open Era and the youngest finalist at the US Open.
This was the first edition of the US Open to be played on hard courts, and the first to be held at the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, relocating from its former site at Forest Hills.
This marked the final major appearance for two-time major champion and former singles world No. 2 Nancy Richey; she lost in the first round to Lesley Hunt.

## Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Chris Evert is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
* Martina Navratilova (semifinalist)
* Chris Evert (champion)
* Virginia Wade (third round)
* Wendy Turnbull (semifinalist)
* Tracy Austin (quarterfinalist)
* Dianne Fromholtz (third round)
* Betty Stöve (fourth round)
* Kerry Reid (fourth round)
* Marise Kruger (first round)
* Mima Jaušovec (second round)
* Virginia Ruzici (quarterfinalist)
* Regina Maršíková (fourth round)
* Marita Redondo (fourth round)
* JoAnne Russell (second round)
* Kathy May (quarterfinalist)
* Pam Shriver (finalist)

## Draw
### Key

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

### Final eight

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Martina Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Virginia Ruzici | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Virginia Ruzici | 3 | 2 | | 1 | Martina Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | 16 | Pam Shriver | 7 | 7 | | | | |
| | Lesley Hunt | 2 | 0 | | 16 | Pam Shriver | 7 | 7 | | | | |
| 16 | Pam Shriver | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Pam Shriver | 6 | 6 | | | | | | 16 | Pam Shriver | 5 | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | 2 | Chris Evert | 7 | 6 |
| 15 | Kathy May | 6 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | 2 | Chris Evert | 7 | 6 |
| 4 | Wendy Turnbull | 3 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Wendy Turnbull | 3 | 7 | 6 | 4 | Wendy Turnbull | 3 | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Chris Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| 5 | Tracy Austin | 5 | 1 | | 2 | Chris Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| 2 | Chris Evert | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |

### Earlier rounds
#### Section 1

| 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 |
| | | | | 1 | Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lovera | 6 | 5 | 6 | | Lovera | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Harford | 3 | 7 | 2 | | | | | | 1 | Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Pinterová | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | | | Pinterová | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Strachoňová | 6 | 7 | | | Strachoňová | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wikstedt | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Navratilova | 6 | 6 |
| duPont | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Kiyomura | 4 | 2 |
| Tyler | 4 | 3 | | | duPont | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Kiyomura | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Kiyomura | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | |
| Tomanová | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | Tomanová | 3 | 6 | 3 | | | | |
| Medrado | 4 | 3 | | | Tomanová | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 10 | Jaušovec | 2 | 2 | r | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| 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 |
| 11 | Ruzici | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Whytcross | 1 | 0 | 11 | Ruzici | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Thibault | 4 | 7 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 11 | Ruzici | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| Q | Yonezawa | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | Louie | 2 | 3 | | | | | |
| | Fayter | 3 | 5 | Q | Yonezawa | 7 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Louie | 5 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Ruzici | 4 | 7 | 6 |
| | DuVall | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | Margolin | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| | Simionescu | 4 | 3 | | DuVall | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Margolin | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Margolin | 6 | 7 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 6 | Fromholtz | 2 | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | | | Desfor | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Fromholtz | 6 | 6 | 6 | Fromholtz | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Harter | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 |
| | | | | | 3 | Wade | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Cuypers | 6 | 3 | 6 | | Cuypers | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sparre-Viragh | 1 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | 3 | Wade | 3 | 6 | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Forood | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Forood | 7 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Meyer | 7 | 6 | | | Meyer | 5 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kemmer Shaw | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | Forood | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Hunt | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| | | | | | | Vermaak | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hunt | 6 | 4 | 6 | | Hunt | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Richey | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | Hunt | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Mandlíková | 7 | 2 | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Mandlíková | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Russell | 6 | 6 | | 14 | Russell | 2 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Blackwood | 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 16 | Shriver | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Reynolds | 1 | 1 | | 16 | Shriver | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Walsh | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 16 | Shriver | 6 | 7 | | | | |
| | Evert J | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Evert J | 2 | 5 | | | | |
| | Moulton | 6 | 0 | 1 | | Evert J | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Giscafré | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | Shriver | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Reid | 2 | 4 |
| | | | | | | Overton | 6 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | Tobin | 6 | 6 | | | Tobin | 0 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Hutnick | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | Tobin | 0 | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Reid | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | Q | White | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Reid | 6 | 6 | | 8 | Reid | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Anthony | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 5

| 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 |
| 7 | Stöve | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Holladay | 3 | 2 | | 7 | Stöve | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | González | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 7 | Stöve | 7 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Hobbs | 6 | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Hobbs | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Gerulaitis | 3 | 6 | 6 | | Gerulaitis | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | McInerney | 6 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | 7 | Stöve | 4 | 6 |
| | Tolleson | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 15 | May | 6 | 7 |
| | Latham | 3 | 3 | | | Tolleson | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Potter | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Tolleson | 1 | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 15 | May | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Doerner | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | May | 6 | 6 | | 15 | May | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Gurdal | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 |
| 13 | Redondo | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bruning | 6 | 1 | | 13 | Redondo | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Casabianca | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 13 | Redondo | 2 | 7 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Kloss | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Kloss | 6 | 6 | 1 | | | | | |
| | Richards | 2 | 7 | 4 | | Kloss | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Ziegenfuss | 6 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | Redondo | 2 | 7 | 2 |
| | Collins | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Turnbull | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Smith | 5 | 4 | | | Collins | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Hepner | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Collins | 5 | 6 | 4 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Turnbull | 7 | 1 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Hallquist | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Turnbull | 6 | 7 | | 4 | Turnbull | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ebbinghaus | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 7

| 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 |
| 5 | Austin | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bostrom | 0 | 1 | 5 | Austin | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | O'Neil | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | 5 | Austin | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Q | Fernandez | 1 | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | Q | Fernandez | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Madruga | 7 | 6 | Q | Madruga | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | Ekblom | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | 5 | Austin | 6 | 6 |
| | Smith | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | Smith | 4 | 3 |
| | Jordan | 1 | 6 | | Smith | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Gilbert | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Smith | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Q | Bunge | 3 | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | Kuykendall | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Bunge | 7 | 7 | Q | Bunge | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Kruger | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 8

| 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 |
| 12 | Maršíková | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Teeguarden | 5 | 3 | | 12 | Maršíková | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Q | Vessies | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Maršíková | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| Q | Jordan | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Liess | 4 | 1 | | | | |
| | Nagelsen | 6 | 3 | 4 | Q | Jordan | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Liess | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Maršíková | 4 | 1 |
| | Stoll | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Evert C | 6 | 6 |
| | Coles | 0 | 1 | | | Stoll | 5 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Anliot | 7 | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Stoll | 1 | 5 | | | | |
| | Ganz | 7 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | 2 | Evert C | 6 | 7 | | | | |
| | Hanika | 5 | 6 | 4 | | Ganz | 0 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Evert C | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |