1991 Australian Open – Women's singles
# 1991 Australian Open – Women's singles

Monica Seles defeated Jana Novotná in the final, 5–7, 6–3, 6–1 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1991 Australian Open. She became the first woman in the Open Era to win the Australian Open after saving a match point, doing so in the semifinals against Mary Joe Fernández.

Steffi Graf was the three-time defending champion, but lost to Novotná in the quarterfinals.

## Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Monica Seles is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

* Steffi Graf (quarterfinals)
* Monica Seles (champion)
* Mary Joe Fernández (semifinals)
* Gabriela Sabatini (quarterfinals)
* Katerina Maleeva (quarterfinals)
* Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (semifinals)
* Manuela Maleeva (second round)
* Zina Garrison (fourth round)
* Helena Suková (third round)
* Jana Novotná (finalist)
* Natasha Zvereva (fourth round)
* Barbara Paulus (second round)
* Amy Frazier (fourth round)
* Rosalyn Fairbank-Nideffer (third round)
* Laura Gildemeister (second round)
* Sabine Appelmans (fourth round)

## Draw

### Key

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

### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Steffi Graf | 7 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Jana Novotná | 5 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Jana Novotná | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | Jana Novotná | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 2 | 4 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Gabriela Sabatini | 1 | 3 | | 6 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 2 | 4 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 10 | Jana Novotná | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Monica Seles | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | Katerina Maleeva | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Monica Seles | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| 3 | Mary Joe Fernández | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Mary Joe Fernández | 6 | 6 | | 3 | Mary Joe Fernández | 3 | 6 | 7 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Monica Seles | 6 | 0 | 9 | | | | | |
| | Anke Huber | 3 | 1 | | 2 | Monica Seles | 6 | 0 | 9 | | | | | |
| 2 | Monica Seles | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Earlier rounds

**Section 1**

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | S Graf | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Santrock | 3 | 0 | | 1 | S Graf | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Kidowaki | 1 | 6 | 6 | | M Kidowaki | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | K Sharpe | 6 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | 1 | S Graf | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | K Date | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | N Provis | 4 | 2 | | | | | |
| | N Herreman | 2 | 1 | | | K Date | 6 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | N Provis | 6 | 6 | | | N Provis | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | E Reinach | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | S Graf | 6 | 6 |
| | K Habšudová | 6 | $7^7$ | | | | | | | | | | | | | K Habšudová | 0 | 1 |
| | C Tessi | 2 | $6^5$ | | | K Habšudová | $7^{12}$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Smith | 6 | 6 | | | A Smith | $6^{10}$ | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | E Švíglerová | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | K Habšudová | 6 | 3 | 8 | | | | |
| | E Smylie | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | E Smylie | 0 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | C Kohde-Kilsch | 6 | 4 | 4 | | E Smylie | 6 | 2 | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Vásquez | 1 | 1 | | 15 | L Gildemeister | 3 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | L Gildemeister | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

**Section 2**

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 10 | J Novotná | $7^9$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Minter | $6^7$ | 2 | | 10 | J Novotná | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | K Quentrec | $7^8$ | 2 | 7 | | K Quentrec | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Grossman | $6^6$ | 6 | 5 | | | | | | 10 | J Novotná | $6^2$ | 6 | 8 | | | | |
| | S Stafford | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | S Stafford | $7^7$ | 1 | 6 | | | | |
| | M Bollegraf | 4 | 4 | | | S Stafford | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | G Magers | 6 | 6 | | | G Magers | 7 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | E Zardo | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | J Novotná | $7^7$ | 6 |
| | A Dechaume | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Z Garrison | $6^1$ | 4 |
| | K Godridge | 3 | 5 | | | A Dechaume | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | V Martinek | 6 | 6 | | | V Martinek | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Kijimuta | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | A Dechaume | 2 | 4 | | | | | |
| | N Miyagi | 7 | 1 | 8 | | | | | | 8 | Z Garrison | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | A Gavaldón | 5 | 6 | 6 | | N Miyagi | 6 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | R Stubbs | 2 | 0 | | 8 | Z Garrison | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Z Garrison | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

**Section 3**

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4 | G Sabatini | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | L Harvey-Wild | 3 | 1 | | 4 | G Sabatini | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | M Ekstrand | 6 | 7 | | Q | M Ekstrand | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Pospíšilová | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | 4 | G Sabatini | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | A Strnadová | $7^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | | A Strnadová | 1 | 1 | | | | |
| | S Wasserman | $6^2$ | 4 | | | A Strnadová | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Durie | 6 | 3 | 7 | | J Durie | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | T Morton | 1 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 4 | G Sabatini | 6 | 6 |
| | T Takagi | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | R McQuillan | 3 | 1 |
| | P Fendick | 2 | 6 | 3 | | T Takagi | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | S Schefflin | 7 | 6 | | Q | S Schefflin | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | M Oremans | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | Q | S Schefflin | 4 | 0 | | | | |
| | R McQuillan | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | R McQuillan | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | E Brioukhovets | 6 | 4 | 1 | | R McQuillan | 6 | $6^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | P Thorén | 3 | 3 | | 12 | B Paulus | 4 | $7^9$ | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | B Paulus | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

**Section 4**

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 13 | A Frazier | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | K McDonald | 3 | 4 | | 13 | A Frazier | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Leand | $7^7$ | 1 | 8 | | A Leand | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | I Driehuis | $6^3$ | 6 | 6 | | | | | | 13 | A Frazier | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | C Lindqvist | 7 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | C Cunningham | 6 | 2 | 2 | | | | |
| | C Macgregor | 5 | 6 | 3 | | C Lindqvist | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Cunningham | 6 | 6 | | | C Cunningham | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | N Pratt | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | A Frazier | 3 | 2 |
| | L McNeil | 5 | $7^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | A Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 6 |
| | K Rinaldi | 7 | $6^5$ | 1 | | L McNeil | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | L Savchenko-Neiland | 6 | 6 | | | L Savchenko-Neiland | 3 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | D Jones | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | L McNeil | 4 | 6 | 0 | | | | |
| | M Javer | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 6 | A Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | |
| | A Keller | 2 | 2 | | | M Javer | 6 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | N Medvedeva | 0 | 2 | | 6 | A Sánchez Vicario | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | A Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

**Section 5**

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 5 | K Maleeva | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Schultz | 1 | 3 | | 5 | K Maleeva | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | S Martin | 6 | 6 | | | S Martin | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| WC | C Barclay | 1 | 1 | | | | | | 5 | K Maleeva | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | W Probst | 4 | $7^8$ | 6 | | | | | | D Faber | 3 | 2 | | | | |
| | A Henricksson | 6 | $6^6$ | 4 | | W Probst | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | D Faber | 5 | 6 | 6 | | D Faber | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | E deLone | 7 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | 5 | K Maleeva | 6 | 6 |
| | C Toleafoa | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | M Maleeva | 3 | 2 |
| | S Rottier | 5 | 0 | | | C Toleafoa | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | M Maleeva | 6 | 5 | 6 | | M Maleeva | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | M Jaggard | 4 | 7 | 4 | | | | | | M Maleeva | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | T Whitlinger | $6^3$ | 6 | 6 | | | | | 14 | R Fairbank-Nideffer | 2 | 3 | | | | |
| | R Reggi | $7^7$ | 2 | 2 | | T Whitlinger | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| | G Fernández | 3 | 2 | | 14 | R Fairbank-Nideffer | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | R Fairbank-Nideffer | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

**Section 6**

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 16 | S Appelmans | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Paz | 0 | 1 | | 16 | S Appelmans | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | P Tarabini | 6 | 6 | | | P Tarabini | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| | M Strandlund | 4 | 0 | | | | | | 16 | S Appelmans | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | J Halard | 6 | 6 | | | | | | Q | P Kamstra | 4 | 3 | | | | |
| | D Szabová | 2 | 3 | | | J Halard | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | P Kamstra | 6 | 6 | | Q | P Kamstra | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | R White | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | 16 | S Appelmans | 3 | 3 |
| | B Rittner | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | 3 | M J Fernández | 6 | 6 |
| | S Loosemore | 6 | 3 | 1 | | B Rittner | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | N Sawamatsu | 6 | 6 | | | N Sawamatsu | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | E Burgin | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | N Sawamatsu | 1 | 1 | | | | |
| | F Romano | 7 | 6 | | | | | | 3 | M J Fernández | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| Q | M Zivec-Skulj | 5 | 2 | | | F Romano | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | S Gomer | 1 | 0 | | 3 | M J Fernández | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | M J Fernández | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

**Section 7**

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 7 | M Maleeva | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | J-A Faull | 2 | 0 | | 7 | M Maleeva | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Huber | 6 | 6 | | | A Huber | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Richardson | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | A Huber | 6 | 7 | | | | |
| | E Pfaff | $7^8$ | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | P Shriver | 3 | 5 | | | | |
| | L Field | $6^6$ | 6 | 3 | | E Pfaff | 3 | $6^4$ | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Shriver | 6 | 6 | | | P Shriver | 6 | $7^7$ | | | | | | | | | |
| | N van Lottum | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | A Huber | 6 | 6 |
| | C Bartos | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | N Zvereva | 3 | 4 |
| | N Guerrée | 3 | 2 | | | C Bartos | 6 | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | C Wood | 3 | $7^7$ | 6 | | C Wood | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | S Collins | 6 | $6^4$ | 0 | | | | | | | C Wood | 1 | 3 | | | | |
| | C Porwik | $7^8$ | 6 | | | | | | | 11 | N Zvereva | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| Q | M Kochta | $6^6$ | 3 | | | C Porwik | $6^9$ | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | N Zvereva | 6 | 6 | | 11 | N Zvereva | $7^{11}$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | G Helgeson | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

**Section 8**

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 9 | H Suková | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Cordwell | 2 | 1 | | 9 | H Suková | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | I Cueto | 6 | 2 | 7 | | I Cueto | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Ritter | 4 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | 9 | H Suková | 6 | 1 | 4 | | | | |
| | C Tanvier | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | C Tanvier | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | R Baranski | 4 | 1 | | | C Tanvier | $6^7$ | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Hy | 6 | 6 | | | P Hy | $7^9$ | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Bowes | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | C Tanvier | 2 | 1 |
| | K Kschwendt | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | M Seles | 6 | 6 |
| | P Langrová | 6 | 3 | 2 | | K Kschwendt | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Rajchrtová | 4 | 7 | 8 | | R Rajchrtová | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | L Stacey | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | K Kschwendt | 3 | 1 | | | | | |
| | C Caverzasio | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | 2 | M Seles | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | S Meier | 3 | 6 | 3 | | C Caverzasio | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | S Hack | 0 | 0 | | 2 | M Seles | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | M Seles | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
