1978 Australian Open – Women's singles

Women's singles
1978 Australian Open
Champion	Chris O'Neil
Runner-up	Betsy Nagelsen
Final score	6–3, 7–6(7–3)
Details
Draw	32 (4 Q )
Seeds	7
Events
Singles men women Doubles men women WC Singles WC Doubles Legends
← 1977 · Australian Open · 1979 →

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

It would be another 29 years before Serena Williams became the next unseeded player to win the Australian Open. Until the 2019 French Open, this would be the last major where all four semifinalists had not previously reached a major 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 (quarterfinals)
2. Renáta Tomanová (quarterfinals)
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 Withdrawn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)

Qualifying[]

Draw[]

Key[]

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

Earlier rounds[]

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		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

References[]

External links[]

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