# 1979 US Open – Women's singles

Tracy Austin defeated four-time defending champion Chris Evert in the final, 6–4, 6–3 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1979 US Open. It was her first major singles title. Austin became the youngest major champion in the Open Era, aged 16 years and 9 months (a record later surpassed by Monica Seles at the 1990 French Open, and one that still stands at the US Open). She was also the youngest woman to defeat the world No. 1 and No. 2 at one tournament since the WTA rankings were established in 1975, a record that still stands.

## Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Tracy Austin is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
* Chris Evert-Lloyd (runner-up)
* Martina Navratilova (semifinalist)
* Tracy Austin (champion)
* Virginia Wade (quarterfinalist)
* Evonne Goolagong (quarterfinalist)
* Dianne Fromholtz (fourth round)
* Wendy Turnbull (third round)
* Kerry Melville Reid (quarterfinalist)
* Billie Jean King (semifinalist)
* Greer Stevens (fourth round)
* Kathy Jordan (fourth round)
* Regina Maršíková (fourth round)
* Sue Barker (second round)
* Pam Shriver (first round)
* Ann Kiyomura (second round)
* Betty Stöve (second round)

## Draw
### Key

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

### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Chris Evert | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Evonne Goolagong | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Evonne Goolagong | 5 | 2 | 1 | Chris Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | 9 | Billie Jean King | 1 | 0 | | | | |
| 4 | Virginia Wade | 3 | 6 | 9 | Billie Jean King | 1 | 0 | | | | |
| 9 | Billie Jean King | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Billie Jean King | 6 | 7 | | | | | 1 | Chris Evert | 4 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | 3 | Tracy Austin | 6 | 6 |
| | Sylvia Hanika | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | 3 | Tracy Austin | 6 | 6 |
| 3 | Tracy Austin | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Tracy Austin | 6 | 6 | 3 | Tracy Austin | 7 | 7 | | | | |
| | | | | 2 | Martina Navratilova | 5 | 5 | | | | |
| 8 | Kerry Melville Reid | 4 | 1 | 2 | Martina Navratilova | 5 | 5 | | | | |
| 2 | Martina Navratilova | 6 | 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 1 | Chris Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Iris Riedel | 0 | 0 | 1 | Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | JoAnne Russell | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 1 | Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Richards | 2 | 1 | | | | | |
| | | | | | Yvonne Vermaak | 2 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Renée Richards | 7 | 6 | | Richards | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mary Carillo | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Evert | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Acker | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| | | | | | Lele Forood | 6 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sherry Acker | 6 | 6 | | Acker | 3 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dana Gilbert | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | Acker | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| Q | Kelly Henry | 6 | 6 | | | | | | Q | Henry | 4 | 1 | | | | | |
| | Emilse Raponi | 3 | 4 | Q | Henry | 7 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 16 | Betty Stöve | 6 | 1 | r | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| 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 |
| Q | Julie Harrington | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Pam Shriver | 4 | 1 | | Q | Harrington | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Peanut Louie Harper | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Q | Harrington | 4 | 6 | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | DuVall | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Nancy Yeargin | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jeanne DuVall | 6 | 7 | | | DuVall | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bettina Bunge | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | DuVall | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Goolagong | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| | | | | | | Sabina Simmonds | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Trey Lewis | 7 | 5 | 6 | Q | Lewis | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Renee Blount | 6 | 7 | 4 | | | | | | Simmonds | 5 | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 5 | Goolagong | 7 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Rayni Fox | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Evonne Goolagong | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | Goolagong | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kay McDaniel | 7 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 3

| 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 |
| 4 | Virginia Wade | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Paula Smith | 3 | 3 | | 4 | Wade | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Janet Newberry | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 4 | Wade | 6 | 7 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Morrison | 1 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | Q | Amanda Tobin | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | Diane Morrison | 6 | 6 | | | Morrison | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Linda Siegel | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Wade | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Maršíková | w/o |
| | | | | | | Julie Anthony | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | Barbara Jordan | 6 | 6 | | | B. Jordan | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Susan Mascarin | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | B. Jordan | 6 | 2 | 3 | | | |
| | Mima Jaušovec | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | 12 | Maršíková | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | |
| | Elly Vessies | 7 | 2 | 2 | | Jaušovec | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 12 | Regina Maršíková | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 4

| 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 |
| 9 | Billie Jean King | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Zenda Liess | 3 | 5 | | 9 | King | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Chris O'Neil | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 9 | King | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Tanya Harford | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | Margolin | 3 | 3 | | | | |
| | Marita Redondo | 6 | 1 | | | Harford | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Stacy Margolin | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | King | 6 | 6 |
| | Kathy May Teacher | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | May Teacher | 3 | 0 |
| Q | Heather Ludloff | 6 | 1 | | | May Teacher | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Daniela Porzio | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | May Teacher | 7 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 7 | Turnbull | 5 | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Anna-Maria Fernandez | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Wendy Turnbull | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | Turnbull | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Marie Neumannová Pinterová | 6 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 6 | Dianne Fromholtz | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Diane Evers | 3 | 2 | | 6 | Fromholtz | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Q | Kathy Horvath | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Fromholtz | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Allen | 7 | 3 | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Ruta Gerulaitis | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Leslie Allen | 6 | 6 | | | Allen | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sandy Collins | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Fromholtz | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| | Sylvia Hanika | 1 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | Hanika | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Betsy Nagelsen | 6 | 3 | 2 | | Hanika | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Lea Antonoplis | 2 | 7 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Hanika | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | duPont | 4 | 7 | 3 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Laura duPont | 7 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Ann Kiyomura | 6 | 6 | | 15 | Kiyomura | 5 | 4 | r | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Beth Norton | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 6

| 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 | Kathy Jordan | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Betty-Ann Stuart | 4 | 0 | 11 | K. Jordan | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Andrea Whitmore | 7 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 11 | K. Jordan | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Florența Mihai | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | White | 2 | 1 | | | | | |
| | Mimmi Wikstedt | 3 | 5 | | Mihai | 6 | 1 | r | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Wendy White | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | K. Jordan | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| | Kate Latham | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Austin | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| | Pam Teeguarden | 4 | 2 | | Latham | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Karen Hantze Susman | 4 | 7 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Latham | 3 | 0 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 3 | Austin | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | Andrea Jaeger | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Tracy Austin | 6 | 6 | 3 | Austin | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ivanna Madruga | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 8 | Kerry Melville Reid | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rosemary Casals | 1 | 2 | | 8 | Melville Reid | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Anne Hobbs | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Melville Reid | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Ilana Kloss | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | Piatek | 6 | 3 | 4 | | | | | |
| | Cynthia Doerner | 4 | 6 | 4 | | Kloss | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Mary Lou Piatek | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Melville Reid | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| | Anne Smith | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | A. Smith | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| | Gail Lovera | 2 | 3 | | | A. Smith | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Renáta Tomanová | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | A. Smith | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Barbara Potter | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | Potter | 6 | 4 | 4 | | | | | |
| | Diane Desfor | 3 | 4 | | | Potter | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 13 | Sue Barker | 2 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 |
| | | | | | 10 | Greer Stevens | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Rosalyn Fairbank | 4 | 6 | 6 | Q | Fairbank | 2 | 6 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | Marcie Louie | 6 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | 10 | Stevens | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Holladay | 4 | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Barbara Hallquist | 3 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | Terry Holladay | 6 | 6 | | | Holladay | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Sharon Walsh | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | Stevens | 2 | 2 |
| | Hana Mandlíková | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Navratilova | 6 | 6 |
| | Françoise Dürr | 1 | 1 | | | Mandlíková | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Caroline Stoll | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Stoll | 3 | 1 | | | | |
| | Alycia Moulton | 7 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | 2 | Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Brigitte Cuypers | 5 | 6 | 3 | | Moulton | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Martina Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |