1991 Australian Open – Women's singles

Women's singles
1991 Australian Open
Final
ChampionSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles
Runner-upCzechoslovakia Jana Novotná
Score5–7, 6–3, 6–1
Details
Draw128
Seeds16
Events
Singles men women boys girls
Doubles men women mixed boys girls
WC Singles men women quad
WC Doubles men women quad
Legends men women mixed
← 1990 · Australian Open · 1992 →

Monica Seles defeated Jana Novotná in the final, 5–7, 6–3, 6–1 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1991 Australian Open. She became the first woman in the Open Era to win the Australian Open after saving a match point, doing so in the semifinals against Mary Joe Fernández.

Steffi Graf was the three-time defending champion, but lost to Novotná in the quarterfinals.

Seeds

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

  1. Germany Steffi Graf (quarterfinals)
  2. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles (champion)
  3. United States Mary Joe Fernández (semifinals)
  4. Argentina Gabriela Sabatini (quarterfinals)
  5. Bulgaria Katerina Maleeva (quarterfinals)
  6. Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (semifinals)
  7. Switzerland Manuela Maleeva (second round)
  8. United States Zina Garrison (fourth round)
  9. Czechoslovakia Helena Suková (third round)
  10. Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná (finalist)
  11. Soviet Union Natasha Zvereva (fourth round)
  12. Austria Barbara Paulus (second round)
  13. United States Amy Frazier (fourth round)
  14. South Africa Rosalyn Fairbank-Nideffer (third round)
  15. Peru Laura Gildemeister (second round)
  16. Belgium Sabine Appelmans (fourth round)

Qualifying

Draw

Key

Finals

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
               
1 Germany Steffi Graf 7 4 6
10 Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná 5 6 8
10 Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná 6 6
6 Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 2 4
4 Argentina Gabriela Sabatini 1 3
6 Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6 6
10 Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná 7 3 1
2 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles 5 6 6
5 Bulgaria Katerina Maleeva 3 2
3 United States Mary Joe Fernández 6 6
3 United States Mary Joe Fernández 3 6 7
2 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles 6 0 9
  Germany Anke Huber 3 1
2 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles 6 6

Earlier rounds

Section 1

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
1 Germany S Graf 6 6
United States J Santrock 3 0 1 Germany S Graf 6 6
Japan M Kidowaki 1 6 6 Japan M Kidowaki 1 0
Australia K Sharpe 6 1 4 1 Germany S Graf 6 6
Japan K Date 6 6 Australia N Provis 4 2
France N Herreman 2 1 Japan K Date 6 0 4
Australia N Provis 6 6 Australia N Provis 4 6 6
South Africa E Reinach 2 0 1 Germany S Graf 6 6
Czechoslovakia K Habšudová 6 77 Czechoslovakia K Habšudová 0 1
Argentina C Tessi 2 65 Czechoslovakia K Habšudová 712 6
United States A Smith 6 6 United States A Smith 610 2
Czechoslovakia E Švíglerová 3 4 Czechoslovakia K Habšudová 6 3 8
Australia E Smylie 2 6 6 Australia E Smylie 0 6 6
Germany C Kohde-Kilsch 6 4 4 Australia E Smylie 6 2 9
Peru P Vásquez 1 1 15 Peru L Gildemeister 3 6 7
15 Peru L Gildemeister 6 6

Section 2

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
10 Czechoslovakia J Novotná 79 6
Australia A Minter 67 2 10 Czechoslovakia J Novotná 6 6
France K Quentrec 78 2 7 France K Quentrec 2 2
United States A Grossman 66 6 5 10 Czechoslovakia J Novotná 62 6 8
United States S Stafford 6 6 United States S Stafford 77 1 6
Netherlands M Bollegraf 4 4 United States S Stafford 5 6 6
United States G Magers 6 6 United States G Magers 7 2 2
Switzerland E Zardo 4 2 10 Czechoslovakia J Novotná 77 6
France A Dechaume 6 7 8 United States Z Garrison 61 4
Australia K Godridge 3 5 France A Dechaume 6 6
Germany V Martinek 6 6 Germany V Martinek 2 3
Japan A Kijimuta 3 1 France A Dechaume 2 4
Japan N Miyagi 7 1 8 8 United States Z Garrison 6 6
Mexico A Gavaldón 5 6 6 Japan N Miyagi 6 0 2
WC Australia R Stubbs 2 0 8 United States Z Garrison 2 6 6
8 United States Z Garrison 6 6

Section 3

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
4 Argentina G Sabatini 6 6
United States L Harvey-Wild 3 1 4 Argentina G Sabatini 6 6
Q Sweden M Ekstrand 6 7 Q Sweden M Ekstrand 1 1
Czechoslovakia J Pospíšilová 1 5 4 Argentina G Sabatini 6 6
Czechoslovakia A Strnadová 77 6 Czechoslovakia A Strnadová 1 1
Belgium S Wasserman 62 4 Czechoslovakia A Strnadová 6 6
United Kingdom J Durie 6 3 7 United Kingdom J Durie 3 2
WC Australia T Morton 1 6 5 4 Argentina G Sabatini 6 6
Japan T Takagi 6 3 6 Australia R McQuillan 3 1
United States P Fendick 2 6 3 Japan T Takagi 2 4
Q United States S Schefflin 7 6 Q United States S Schefflin 6 6
LL Netherlands M Oremans 5 4 Q United States S Schefflin 4 0
Australia R McQuillan 2 6 6 Australia R McQuillan 6 6
Soviet Union E Brioukhovets 6 4 1 Australia R McQuillan 6 67 6
Finland P Thorén 3 3 12 Austria B Paulus 4 79 4
12 Austria B Paulus 6 6

Section 4

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
13 United States A Frazier 6 6
WC Australia K McDonald 3 4 13 United States A Frazier 6 6
United States A Leand 77 1 8 United States A Leand 3 0
Q Netherlands I Driehuis 63 6 6 13 United States A Frazier 3 6 6
Sweden C Lindqvist 7 4 6 United States C Cunningham 6 2 2
United States C Macgregor 5 6 3 Sweden C Lindqvist 1 0
United States C Cunningham 6 6 United States C Cunningham 6 6
WC Australia N Pratt 1 1 13 United States A Frazier 3 2
United States L McNeil 5 77 6 6 Spain A Sánchez Vicario 6 6
United States K Rinaldi 7 65 1 United States L McNeil 6 4 6
Soviet Union L Savchenko-Neiland 6 6 Soviet Union L Savchenko-Neiland 3 6 3
WC Australia D Jones 2 2 United States L McNeil 4 6 0
United Kingdom M Javer 6 6 6 Spain A Sánchez Vicario 6 3 6
United States A Keller 2 2 United Kingdom M Javer 6 4 2
Soviet Union N Medvedeva 0 2 6 Spain A Sánchez Vicario 4 6 6
6 Spain A Sánchez Vicario 6 6

Section 5

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
5 Bulgaria K Maleeva 6 6
Netherlands B Schultz 1 3 5 Bulgaria K Maleeva 6 6
United States S Martin 6 6 United States S Martin 2 0
WC Australia C Barclay 1 1 5 Bulgaria K Maleeva 6 6
Germany W Probst 4 78 6 United States D Faber 3 2
United States A Henricksson 6 66 4 Germany W Probst 2 0
United States D Faber 5 6 6 United States D Faber 6 6
United States E deLone 7 3 2 5 Bulgaria K Maleeva 6 6
New Zealand C Toleafoa 7 6 Bulgaria M Maleeva 3 2
Netherlands S Rottier 5 0 New Zealand C Toleafoa 0 3
Bulgaria M Maleeva 6 5 6 Bulgaria M Maleeva 6 6
Australia M Jaggard 4 7 4 Bulgaria M Maleeva 6 6
United States T Whitlinger 63 6 6 14 South Africa R Fairbank-Nideffer 2 3
Italy R Reggi 77 2 2 United States T Whitlinger 4 1
United States G Fernández 3 2 14 South Africa R Fairbank-Nideffer 6 6
14 South Africa R Fairbank-Nideffer 6 6

Section 6

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
16 Belgium S Appelmans 6 6
Argentina M Paz 0 1 16 Belgium S Appelmans 7 6
Argentina P Tarabini 6 6 Argentina P Tarabini 5 1
Sweden M Strandlund 4 0 16 Belgium S Appelmans 6 6
France J Halard 6 6 Q Netherlands P Kamstra 4 3
Czechoslovakia D Szabová 2 3 France J Halard 3 4
Q Netherlands P Kamstra 6 6 Q Netherlands P Kamstra 6 6
United States R White 4 2 16 Belgium S Appelmans 3 3
Germany B Rittner 4 6 6 3 United States M J Fernández 6 6
United Kingdom S Loosemore 6 3 1 Germany B Rittner 3 3
Japan N Sawamatsu 6 6 Japan N Sawamatsu 6 6
United States E Burgin 4 3 Japan N Sawamatsu 1 1
Italy F Romano 7 6 3 United States M J Fernández 6 6
Q Germany M Zivec-Skulj 5 2 Italy F Romano 1 2
United Kingdom S Gomer 1 0 3 United States M J Fernández 6 6
3 United States M J Fernández 6 6

Section 7

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
7 Switzerland M Maleeva 6 6
WC Australia J-A Faull 2 0 7 Switzerland M Maleeva 4 4
Germany A Huber 6 6 Germany A Huber 6 6
New Zealand J Richardson 4 1 Germany A Huber 6 7
Germany E Pfaff 78 3 6 United States P Shriver 3 5
Australia L Field 66 6 3 Germany E Pfaff 3 64
United States P Shriver 6 6 United States P Shriver 6 77
France N van Lottum 3 1 Germany A Huber 6 6
Hungary C Bartos 6 6 11 Soviet Union N Zvereva 3 4
France N Guerrée 3 2 Hungary C Bartos 6 3 0
United Kingdom C Wood 3 77 6 United Kingdom C Wood 3 6 6
Q United States S Collins 6 64 0 United Kingdom C Wood 1 3
Germany C Porwik 78 6 11 Soviet Union N Zvereva 6 6
Q Germany M Kochta 66 3 Germany C Porwik 69 4
11 Soviet Union N Zvereva 6 6 11 Soviet Union N Zvereva 711 6
Q United States G Helgeson 3 4

Section 8

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
9 Czechoslovakia H Suková 6 6
New Zealand B Cordwell 2 1 9 Czechoslovakia H Suková 6 7
Germany I Cueto 6 2 7 Germany I Cueto 2 5
Austria P Ritter 4 6 5 9 Czechoslovakia H Suková 6 1 4
France C Tanvier 6 6 France C Tanvier 4 6 6
United States R Baranski 4 1 France C Tanvier 67 7 6
Canada P Hy 6 6 Canada P Hy 79 5 1
United States B Bowes 4 3 France C Tanvier 2 1
Germany K Kschwendt 2 6 6 2 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia M Seles 6 6
Czechoslovakia P Langrová 6 3 2 Germany K Kschwendt 6 6
Czechoslovakia R Rajchrtová 4 7 8 Czechoslovakia R Rajchrtová 1 1
WC Australia L Stacey 6 5 6 Germany K Kschwendt 3 1
Italy C Caverzasio 6 3 6 2 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia M Seles 6 6
Germany S Meier 3 6 3 Italy C Caverzasio 1 0
Germany S Hack 0 0 2 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia M Seles 6 6
2 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia M Seles 6 6
Preceded by Grand Slam women's singles Succeeded by