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).

The seeded players are listed below. Tracy Austin is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

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

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Finals
	1	Chris Evert	7	6
	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	6	7
															1	Chris Evert	4	3
															3	Tracy Austin	6	6
		Sylvia Hanika	1	1
	3	Tracy Austin	6	6
								3	Tracy Austin	7	7
								2	Martina Navratilova	5	5
	8	Kerry Melville Reid	4	1
	2	Martina Navratilova	6	6

	First round							Second round							Third 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

	First round							Second round							Third 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

	First round							Second round							Third 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

	First round							Second round							Third 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

	First round							Second round							Third 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

	First round							Second round							Third 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

	First round							Second round							Third 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

	First round							Second round							Third 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

• 1979 US Open – Women's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation