The U.S. Open women’s singles title has showcased the evolution of tennis for more than a century. Below is a comprehensive list of champions, from the inaugural U.S. National Championships in 1887 to the most recent 2026 tournament, where Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina defeated Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.

2020s – A New Generation of Stars

2026 – Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) def. Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) 6-4 5-7 6-2

2025 – Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) def. Amanda Anisimova (U.S.) 6-3 7-6(3)

2024 – Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) def. Jessica Pegula (U.S.) 7-5 7-5

2023 – Coco Gauff (U.S.) def. Aryna Sabalenka 2-6 6-3 6-2

2022 – Iga Świątek (Poland) def. Ons Jabeur (Tunisia) 6-2 7-6(5)

2021 – Emma Raducanu (Britain) def. Leylah Fernandez (Canada) 6-4 6-3

2020 – Naomi Osaka (Japan) def. Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) 1-6 6-3 6-3

2010s – Dominance of the Williams Sisters and Rising Talent

2019 – Bianca Andreescu (Canada) def. Serena Williams (U.S.) 6-3 7-5

2018 – Naomi Osaka (Japan) def. Serena Williams 6-2 6-4

2017 – Sloane Stephens (U.S.) def. Madison Keys (U.S.) 6-3 6-0

2016 – Angelique Kerber (Germany) def. Karolína Plíšková (Czech Republic) 6-3 4-6 6-4

2015 – Flavia Pennetta (Italy) def. Roberta Vinci (Italy) 7-6(4) 6-2

2014 – Serena Williams (U.S.) def. Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) 6-3 6-3

2013 – Serena Williams (U.S.) def. Victoria Azarenka 7-5 6-7(6) 6-1

2012 – Serena Williams (U.S.) def. Victoria Azarenka 6-2 2-6 7-5

2011 – Samantha Stosur (Australia) def. Serena Williams 6-2 6-3

2010 – Kim Clijsters (Belgium) def. Vera Zvonareva (Russia) 6-2 6-1

2000s – The Rise of New Champions

2009 – Kim Clijsters (Belgium) def. Caroline Wozniacki 7-5 6-3

2008 – Serena Williams (U.S.) def. Jelena Janković (Serbia) 6-4 7-5

2007 – Justine Henin (Belgium) def. Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) 6-1 6-3

2006 – Maria Sharapova (Russia) def. Justine Henin 6-4 6-4

2005 – Kim Clijsters (Belgium) def. Mary Pierce (France) 6-3 6-1

2004 – Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) def. Elena Dementieva (Russia) 6-3 7-5

2003 – Justine Henin (Belgium) def. Kim Clijsters 7-5 6-1

2002 – Serena Williams (U.S.) def. Venus Williams (U.S.) 6-4 6-3

2001 – Venus Williams (U.S.) def. Serena Williams 6-2 6-4

2000 – Venus Williams (U.S.) def. Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) 6-4 7-5

1990s – The Era of Steffi Graf and Emerging Stars

1999 – Serena Williams (U.S.) def. Martina Hingis (Switzerland) 6-3 7-6

1998 – Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) def. Martina Hingis 6-3 7-5

1997 – Martina Hingis (Switzerland) def. Venus Williams 6-0 6-4

1996 – Steffi Graf (Germany) def. Monica Seles (U.S.) 7-5 6-4

1995 – Steffi Graf (Germany) def. Monica Seles 7-6 0-6 6-3

1994 – Arantxa Sánchez‑Vicario (Spain) def. Steffi Graf 1-6 7-6 6-4

1993 – Steffi Graf (Germany) def. Helena Suková (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-3

1992 – Monica Seles (U.S.) def. Arantxa Sánchez‑Vicario 6-3 6-3

1991 – Monica Seles (U.S.) def. Martina Navratilova (U.S.) 7-6 6-1

1990 – Gabriela Sabatini (Argentina) def. Steffi Graf 6-2 7-6

1980s – Navratilova’s Dominance

1989 – Steffi Graf (Germany) def. Martina Navratilova 3-6 7-5 6-1

1988 – Steffi Graf (Germany) def. Gabriela Sabatini 6-3 3-6 6-1

1987 – Martina Navratilova (U.S.) def. Steffi Graf 7-6 6-1

1986 – Martina Navratilova (U.S.) def. Helena Suková 6-3 6-2

1985 – Hana Mandlíková (Czechoslovakia) def. Martina Navratilova 7-6 1-6 7-6

1984 – Martina Navratilova (U.S.) def. Chris Evert (U.S.) 4-6 6-4 6-4

1983 – Martina Navratilova (U.S.) def. Chris Evert 6-1 6-3

1970s – The Evert‑Navratilova Rivalry

1982 – Chris Evert (U.S.) def. Hana Mandlíková 6-3 6-1

1981 – Tracy Austin (U.S.) def. Martina Navratilova 1-6 7-6 7-6

1980 – Chris Evert (U.S.) def. Hana Mandlíková 5-7 6-1 6-1

1979 – Tracy Austin (U.S.) def. Chris Evert 6-4 6-3

1978 – Chris Evert (U.S.) def. Pam Shriver (U.S.) 7-5 6-4

1977 – Chris Evert (U.S.) def. Wendy Turnbull (Australia) 7-6 6-2

1976 – Chris Evert (U.S.) def. Evonne Goolagong (Australia) 6-3 6-0

1975 – Chris Evert (U.S.) def. Evonne Goolagong 5-7 6-4 6-2

1974 – Billie Jean King (U.S.) def. Evonne Goolagong 3-6 6-3 7-5

1973 – Margaret Court (Australia) def. Evonne Goolagong 7-6 5-7 6-2

Early Years – Pioneers of Women’s Tennis

1972 – Billie Jean King (U.S.) def. Kerry Melville (Australia) 6-3 7-5

1971 – Billie Jean King (U.S.) def. Rosemary Casals (U.S.) 6-4 7-6

1970 – Margaret Court (Australia) def. Rosie Casals 6-2 2-6 6-1

1969 – Margaret Court (Australia) def. Nancy Richey (U.S.) 6-2 6-2

1968 – Virginia Wade (Britain) def. Billie Jean King 6-4 6-4

1967 – Billie Jean King (U.S.) def. Ann Haydon Jones (Britain) 11-9 6-4

1966 – Maria Bueno (Brazil) def. Nancy Richey 6-3 6-1

1965 – Margaret Court (Australia) def. Billie Jean Moffitt (U.S.) 8-6 7-5

1964 – Maria Bueno (Brazil) def. Carole Caldwell Graebner (U.S.) 6-1 6-0

1963 – Maria Bueno (Brazil) def. Margaret Court 7-5 6-4

1962 – Margaret Court (Australia) def. Darlene Hard (U.S.) 9-7 6-4

1961 – Darlene Hard (U.S.) def. Ann Haydon (Britain) 6-3 6-4

1960 – Darlene Hard (U.S.) def. Maria Bueno 6-4 10-12 6-4

1959 – Maria Bueno (Brazil) def. Christine Truman (Britain) 6-1 6-4

1958 – Althea Gibson (U.S.) def. Darlene Hard 3-6 6-1 6-2

1957 – Althea Gibson (U.S.) def. Louise Brough (U.S.) 6-3 6-2

1956 – Shirley Fry (U.S.) def. Althea Gibson 6-3 6-4

1955 – Doris Hart (U.S.) def. Patricia Ward Hales (Britain) 6-4 6-2

1954 – Doris Hart (U.S.) def. Louise Brough 6-8 6-1 8-6

1953 – Maureen Connolly (U.S.) def. Doris Hart 6-2 6-4

1952 – Maureen Connolly (U.S.) def. Doris Hart 6-3 7-5

1951 – Maureen Connolly (U.S.) def. Shirley Fry 6-3 1-6 6-4

1950 – Margaret Osborne (U.S.) def. Doris Hart 6-4 6-3

… (list continues back to the inaugural 1887 championship) …

This historic roll of champions reflects the growth of women’s tennis from its modest beginnings to the global spectacle it is today, underscoring the sport’s lasting appeal to families, communities, and fans across the nation.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.