1979 Australian Open – Women's singles

Barbara Jordan defeated Sharon Walsh in the final, 6–3, 6–3 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1979 Australian Open. It was her first major title and first tour-level title overall. Jordan was making her tournament debut.

Women's singles
1979 Australian Open
Champion	Barbara Jordan
Runner-up	Sharon Walsh
Score	6–3, 6–3
Draw	32 (4 Q )
Seeds	7

Main article: 1979 Australian Open

Chris O'Neil was the reigning champion, but did not compete this year.

This was only the second women's singles final not to feature an Australian player, the first being in 1935. This was also the first all-American final at the tournament.

Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. They are ordered by the round in which they were knocked out.

1. Virginia Ruzici (first round)
2. Hana Mandlíková (quarterfinals)
3. Renáta Tomanová (semifinals)
4. Sharon Walsh (finalist)
5. Barbara Jordan (champion)
6. n/a
7. Janet Newberry (quarterfinals)
8. Cynthia Doerner (quarterfinals)

Note: The sixth seed withdrew and was replaced by Cathy Griffiths.

Qualifying

Main article: 1979 Australian Open – Women's singles qualifying

Draw

Key

• Q = Qualifier
• WC = Wild card
• LL = Lucky loser
• Alt = Alternate
• ITF = ITF entry
• PR = Protected ranking
• SR = Special ranking
• SE = Special exempt
• JE = Junior exempt
• JR = Junior Accelerator Programme entrant
• CO = College Accelerator Programme entrant
• NG = Next Gen Accelerator Program entrant
• w/o = Walkover
• r = Retired
• d = Defaulted

Finals

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Finals
		Mary Sawyer	7	6
	7	Janet Newberry	6	3
									Mary Sawyer	6	3
								4	Sharon Walsh	7	6
	4	Sharon Walsh	6	6
		Michèle Gurdal	0	3
															4	Sharon Walsh	3	3
															5	Barbara Jordan	6	6
	8	Cynthia Doerner	2	1
	3	Renáta Tomanová	6	6
								3	Renáta Tomanová	7	3	3
								5	Barbara Jordan	5	6	6
	5	Barbara Jordan	6	6
	2	Hana Mandlíková	2	2

Earlier rounds

Section 1

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	1	V Ruzici	6	2	4
		M Sawyer	0	6	6				M Sawyer	6	6
		N Sato	7	6					N Sato	3	4
		E Little	5	4												M Sawyer	7	6
		L Cassell	6	0	3										7	J Newberry	6	3
		J Chaloner	2	6	6				J Chaloner	6	3	1
		D Evers	6	6				7	J Newberry	2	6	6
	7	J Newberry	4	4																			M Sawyer	6	3
	4	S Walsh	6	6	6																	4	S Walsh	7	6
		M Mesker	7	2	4			4	S Walsh	6	6
		J Dimond	5	4					J Diesslin	1	4
		J Diesslin	7	6											4	S Walsh	6	6
		K Pratt	6	6												M Gurdal	0	3
	Q	C Newton	1	3					K Pratt	1	4
		M Gurdal	6	4	6				M Gurdal	6	6
	LL	C Griffiths	4	6	1

Section 2

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	8	C Doerner	6	6
		K Ruddell	1	4				8	C Doerner	5	7	6
		S Leo	6	4	1				S Saliba	7	6	3
		S Saliba	4	6	6										8	C Doerner	2	1
		P Whytcross	5	6	6										3	R Tomanová	6	6
		M Wikstedt	7	3	2				P Whytcross	4	6	1
		N Gregory	6	5				3	R Tomanová	6	4	6
	3	R Tomanová	7	7																		3	R Tomanová	7	3	3
	5	B Jordan	6	6																		5	B Jordan	5	6	6
		K Hallam	3	2				5	B Jordan	7	6
	Q	R Catton	3	1				Q	A Minter	5	1
	Q	A Minter	6	6											5	B Jordan	6	6
	Q	B Randall	6	2	3										2	H Mandlíková	2	2
		L Harrison	4	6	6				L Harrison	4	5
		J Walker	4	1				2	H Mandlíková	6	7
	2	H Mandlíková	6	6

External links

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