Sofia Kenin defeated Garbiñe Muguruza in the final, 4–6, 6–2, 6–2 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2020 Australian Open.[1] It was her first major title. Kenin was the youngest Australian Open finalist since Ana Ivanovic and the youngest champion since Maria Sharapova, both in 2008. This was the first Australian Open final in the Open Era to be contested between two players ranked outside the top ten, and the first such major final since the 2018 US Open. Kenin entered the top 10 in rankings for the first time by winning the title.
This was the final professional tournament for former world No. 1 and five-time major champion and 2008 champion Maria Sharapova, who lost to Donna Vekić in the first round.[2]
The elimination of Angelique Kerber in the fourth round guaranteed a first-time Australian Open champion for the third year in a row. Ons Jabeur became the first Arabian woman to reach the quarterfinals of a major,[3] as well as the first African woman to reach the quarterfinals of a major since Amanda Coetzer at the 2001 Australian Open.[4]Anett Kontaveit became the first Estonian to reach an Australian Open quarterfinal, and the second to do so at any major after Kaia Kanepi. She lost there to Simona Halep in straight sets. Ashleigh Barty became the first Australian to reach the semifinals since Wendy Turnbull in 1984. Barty's quarterfinal win over Petra Kvitová was her first top ten singles win at a major,[4] having lost her five previous such matches.
The following are the seeded players. Seedings are based on WTA rankings on 13 January 2020, while ranking and points before are as of 20 January 2020. Points after are as of 3 February 2020. Because the 2020 tournament takes place one week later than in 2019, points defending includes results from both the 2019 Australian Open and the tournaments from the week of 28 January 2019 (St. Petersburg and Hua Hin).