1978 Australian Open – Women's Singles

Unseeded Chris O'Neil defeated Betsy Nagelsen 6–3, 7–6^(7–3) in the final to win the Women's Singles tennis title at the 1978 Australian Open.

Women's Singles
1978 Australian Open
Champion	Chris O'Neil
Runner-up	Betsy Nagelsen
Final score	6–3, 7–6^(7–3)
Draw	32 (4 Q )
Seeds	7

It would be another 29 years before Serena Williams would become the next unseeded player to win the Australian Open. Until the 2019 French Open, this would be the last major to feature a semifinalist having not previously reached a final, a span of 188 tournaments.

Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Chris O'Neil is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

1. Sue Barker (Quarterfinalist)
2. Renáta Tomanová (Quarterfinalist)
3. Beth Norton (Second round)
4. Amanda Tobin (First round)
5. Renee Blount (Second round)
6. Cynthia Doerner (First round)
7. Withdrawn
8. Betsy Nagelsen (Finalist)

Draw

Key

• Q = Qualifier
• WC = Wild Card
• LL = Lucky Loser
• Alt = Alternate
• SE = Special Exempt
• PR = Protected Ranking
• ITF = ITF entry
• JE = Junior Exempt
• w/o = Walkover
• r = Retired
• d = Defaulted

Finals

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Finals
	1	Sue Barker	2	6
		Diane Evers	6	7
									Diane Evers	0	3
									Chris O'Neil	6	6
		Chris O'Neil	7	6
	Q	Dorte Ekner	5	1
																Chris O'Neil	6	7
															8	Betsy Nagelsen	3	6
		Mary Sawyer	4	3
	Q	Christine Matison	6	6
								Q	Christine Matison	5	4
								8	Betsy Nagelsen	7	6
	8	Betsy Nagelsen	6	6
	2	Renáta Tomanová	4	4

Section 1

	First Round							Second Round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	1	S Barker	6	6
	Q	K Gulley	0	2				1	S Barker	6	7
		M Gurdal	6	6					M Gurdal	2	5
		W Gilchrist	2	1											1	S Barker	2	6
		D Evers	6	3	6											D Evers	6	7
		K Ruddell	2	6	1				D Evers	6	6
		E Ekblom	4	3				5	R Blount	4	3
	5	R Blount	6	6																			D Evers	0	3
	3	B Norton	6	6																			C O'Neil	6	6
	Q	J Walker	1	4				3	B Norton	4	3
		C O'Neil	6	6					C O'Neil	6	6
		L Harrison	2	4												C O'Neil	7	6
		H Eisterlehner	6	6											Q	D Ekner	5	1
		N Sato	2	4					H Eisterlehner	6	1	2
	Q	D Ekner	6	6				Q	D Ekner	4	6	6
	6	C Doerner	4	3

Section 2

	First Round							Second Round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	LL	B Hermansen	2	5
		P Bostrom	6	7					P Bostrom	6	3	5
		M Sawyer	6	7					M Sawyer	4	6	7
		K Hallam	2	5												M Sawyer	6	6
		K Sands	6	6											Q	C Matison	4	3
		S Saliba	2	0					K Sands	6	2	4
	Q	C Matison	6	6				Q	C Matison	1	6	6
	4	A Tobin	1	3																		Q	C Matison	5	4
	8	B Nagelsen	6	6																		8	B Nagelsen	7	6
		S Simmonds	1	3				8	B Nagelsen	6	6
		N Bohm	6	6					N Bohm	3	4
		J Chaloner	4	2											8	B Nagelsen	6	6
		N Gregory	6	1	6										2	R Tomanová	4	4
		K Pratt	3	6	3				N Gregory	2	5
		P Whytcross	4	1				2	R Tomanová	6	7
	2	R Tomanová	6	6

External links

• 1978 Australian Open – Women's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation