Virginia Wade defeated Evonne Goolagong in the final, 6–4, 6–4 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1972 Australian Open. It was her second major singles title. Wade was making her tournament debut.

Margaret Court was the three-time reigning champion, but did not compete this year due to pregnancy.

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

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Finals
	1	Evonne Goolagong	6	3	6
	8	Barbara Hawcroft	1	6	1
								1	Evonne Goolagong	6	7
								4	Helen Gourlay	2	6
	4	Helen Gourlay	6	6
	5	Olga Morozova	1	2
															1	Evonne Goolagong	4	4
															2	Virginia Wade	6	6
	6	Kerry Harris	6	7
	3	Gail Chanfreau	3	6
								6	Kerry Harris	6	6	0
								2	Virginia Wade	7	2	6
		Patricia Coleman	2	2
	2	Virginia Wade	6	6

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	1	E Goolagong	6	6
		H Worland	0	1				1	E Goolagong	6	6
		J Whyte	6	6					J Whyte	3	1
		A Coleman	4	2											1	E Goolagong	6	3	6
		M Schallau	6	6											8	B Hawcroft	1	6	1
		K Wilkinson	1	2					M Schallau	7	5	3
		D James	5	1				8	B Hawcroft	5	7	6
	8	B Hawcroft	7	6																		1	E Goolagong	6	7
	4	H Gourlay	6	6																		4	H Gourlay	2	6
		P Billing	1	2				4	H Gourlay	6	7
		M Morgan	4	2					M Tesch	3	6
		M Tesch	6	6											4	H Gourlay	6	6
		R Knobel	2	4											5	O Morozova	1	2
		S Irvine	6	6					S Irvine	5	6	1
		K Williams	0	1				5	O Morozova	7	4	6
	5	O Morozova	6	6

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	6	K Harris	6	6
		C Matison	3	2				6	K Harris	6	7
		S Hole	0	4					W Turnbull	1	6
		W Turnbull	6	6											6	K Harris	6	7
		J Young	6	6											3	G Chanfreau	3	6
		A Lebedeff	0	1					J Young	5	6	1
		B Dart	2	1				3	G Chanfreau	7	4	6
	3	G Chanfreau	6	6																		6	K Harris	6	6	0
	7	K Krantzcke	6	6																		2	V Wade	7	2	6
		P Whytcross	2	0				7	K Krantzcke	6	7	1
		P Coleman	6	6					P Coleman	7	5	6
		M Pratt	3	3												P Coleman	2	2
		J Harris	6	5	6										2	V Wade	6	6
		P King	3	7	1				J Harris	1	0
		C Norquay	3	1					V Wade	6	6
	2	V Wade	6	6

• 1972 Australian Open – Women's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation