Barbara Schett was the defending champion but lost in the semifinals to Sandrine Testud.

Testud won in the final 7–5, 6–3 against Elena Makarova.

A champion seed is indicated in bold text while text in italics indicates the round in which that seed was eliminated.

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Final
	1	B Paulus	7	2
		S Dopfer	5	1	r			1	B Paulus	6	6
		M-J Gaidano	4	3					S Cecchini	1	4
		S Cecchini	6	6											1	B Paulus	2	6	6
		P Begerow	6	4	6											I Gorrochategui	6	3	2
	Q	L Ghirardi	4	6	2				P Begerow	6	4	1
		I Gorrochategui	6	7					I Gorrochategui	2	6	6
	7	F Lubiani	4	5																		1	B Paulus	4	5
	4	F Labat	3	6	6																		E Makarova	6	7
	LL	F Zuluaga	6	2	0			4	F Labat	2	6	1
	WC	K Triska	3	2					E Makarova	6	4	6
		E Makarova	6	6												E Makarova	7	7
		S Devillé	6	7											5	S Farina	5	6
	Q	L Dell'Angelo	2	6					S Devillé	5	3
		E Wagner	6	4	2			5	S Farina	7	6
	5	S Farina	2	6	6																									Elena Makarova	5	3
	6	V Ruano-Pascual	7	6																									2	Sandrine Testud	7	6
		L Němečková	6	3				6	V Ruano-Pascual	6	6
		G Pizzichini	7	6					G Pizzichini	4	4
	Q	A Barna	6	3											6	V Ruano-Pascual	3	7	6
		N van Lottum	6	6											3	B Schett	6	5	7
		M Kochta	0	3					N van Lottum	1	3
	Q	S Meier	1	0	r			3	B Schett	6	6
	3	B Schett	6	1																		3	B Schett	6	3	6
	8	F Perfetti	0	3																		2	S Testud	0	6	7
		E Gagliardi	6	6					E Gagliardi	6	6
		T Panova	2	4					A Gavaldón	2	1
		A Gavaldón	6	6												E Gagliardi	7	2	3
	WC	L Garrone	6	6	6										2	S Testud	6	6	6
		L Cenková	7	2	4			WC	L Garrone	6	4	2
		K Kschwendt	2	2				2	S Testud	1	6	6
	2	S Testud	6	6

• 1997 Internazionali Femminili di Palermo Draw^{[permanent dead link‍]}