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.