1971 US Open – Women's singles

Women's singles
1971 US Open
Champion	Billie Jean King
Runner-up	Rosemary Casals
Final score	6–4, 7–6(5–2)

Main article: 1970 US Open (tennis)

Billie Jean King defeated Rosemary Casals in the final, 6–4, 7–6^(5–2) to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1971 US Open.

Margaret Court was the two-time reigning champion, but did not defend her title.

This tournament marked the first major in which future world No. 1 and 18-time major champion Chris Evert competed in the main draw; she lost to King in the semifinals. Evert competed in 19 consecutive US Opens until her retirement in 1989, and failed to reach the semifinals only twice in that span.

Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Billie Jean King is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

1. Billie Jean King (champion)
2. Rosemary Casals (Runner-up)
3. Virginia Wade (withdrew before the tournament began)
4. Kerry Melville (semifinalist)
5. Françoise Dürr (third round)
6. Judy Tegart-Dalton (quarterfinalist)
7. Nancy Richey (third round)
8. Julie Heldman (third round)

Draw

Key

• Q = Qualifier
• WC = Wild card
• LL = Lucky loser
• r = Retired

Final eight

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Finals
	1	Billie Jean King	6	7
		Laura duPont	3	5
								1	Billie Jean King	6	6
									Chris Evert	3	2
		Lesley Hunt	6	2	3
		Chris Evert	4	6	6
															1	Billie Jean King	6	7
															2	Rosemary Casals	4	6
	6	Judy Tegart-Dalton	3	5
	4	Kerry Melville	6	7
								4	Kerry Melville	4	3
								2	Rosemary Casals	6	6
		Joyce Williams	4	6	4
	2	Rosemary Casals	6	2	6

Earlier rounds

Section 1

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
	1	King	6	6
		Arth	0	1				1	King	6	6
		Gourlay	6	6					Gourlay	1	2
		Kraft	3	4											1	King	6	6
		Austin	6	0	6											Tuero	0	2
		Stap	4	6	2				Austin	2	2
		Tuero	6	3	7				Tuero	6	6
		Ziegenfuss	1	6	6																	1	King	6	7
	7	Richey	6	6																			duPont	3	5
		Martinez	2	3				7	Richey	6	6
		Subirats	6	6					Subirats	3	1
		Stap	0	3											7	Richey	6	2	4
		duPont	6	6												duPont	0	6	6
		Footman	3	1					duPont	6	6
		Sandberg	4	6	6				Sandberg	4	1
		Hogan	6	3	2

Section 2

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
		Gilchrist	7	7
		Schallau	6	6					Gilchrist	7	6
		Tenney	6	6					Tenney	5	4
		Gonnerman	1	3												Gilchrist	1	1
		Hunt	7	6												Hunt	6	6
		Giscafré	5	0					Hunt	6	6
		Downs	6	1	7				Downs	1	2
		Cooper	2	6	5																		Hunt	6	2	3
	5	Dürr	6	6																			Evert	4	6	6
		Aucamp	4	0				5	Dürr	6	6
		Liem	6	6					Liem	0	2
		Reese	3	1											5	Dürr	6	2	3
		Eisel	6	6												Evert	2	6	6
		Holdsworth	0	2					Eisel	6	6	1
		Evert	6	6					Evert	4	7	6
		Buding	1	0

Section 3

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
		Chanfreau	6	6
		Sawamatsu	2	1					Chanfreau	6	6
		Redondo	6	6	6				Redondo	3	3
		Kaligis	7	2	3											Chanfreau	2	2
		Newberry	6	6											6	Tegart-Dalton	6	6
		Pigeon	0	2					Newberry	2	4
	6	Tegart-Dalton	6	6				6	Tegart-Dalton	6	6
		Berner	0	1																		6	Tegart-Dalton	3	5
		Pande	6	6																		4	Melville	6	7
		Metcalf	3	3					Pande	6	6
		Kemmer	6	7					Kemmer	2	4
		Graebner	4	6												Pande	4	2
		Teeguarden	6	2	6										4	Melville	6	6
		Molesworth	4	6	3				Teeguarden	0	3
	4	Melville	6	6				4	Melville	6	6
		Bakker	3	3

Section 4

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
		Shaw	6	6
		Hansen	1	1					Shaw	4	7	4
		Williams	7	7					Williams	6	6	6
		Stuart	6	5												Williams	7	6
		Truman	6	6											8	Heldman	5	4
		O'Hara	1	0					Truman	6	4	1
	8	Heldman	6	6				8	Heldman	2	6	6
		Gengler	4	3																			Williams	4	6	4
		Palmeová-West	6	6																		2	Casals	6	2	6
		Moran	2	3					Palmeová-West	7	6	3
		Harris	6	6					Harris	6	7	6
		Johnson	3	3												Harris	1	1
		Overton	6	6											2	Casals	6	6
		Louie	3	3					Overton	6	3	0
	2	Casals	6	2	6			2	Casals	2	6	6
		Stöve	3	6	3

External links

• 1971 US Open – Women's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation

Preceded by 1971 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles

Grand Slam women's singles

Succeeded by 1972 Australian Open – Women's singles