Defending champion Martina Navratilova defeated Steffi Graf in the final, 7–6(7–4), 6–1 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1987 US Open. It was her fourth US Open singles title and 17th major singles title overall. Navratilova did not lose a set during the tournament.
Six-time champion Chris Evert lost in the quarterfinals to Lori McNeil. This marked the first time Evert lost before the semifinals at the US Open, ending a streak of 17 consecutive semifinals.
This was the first time since the 1980 US Open that neither Navratilova nor Evert were the top seed at a major, and correspondingly the first time Graf was seeded first at a major.
Seeds The seeded players are listed below. Martina Navratilova is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
Steffi Graf (finalist) Martina Navratilova (champion) Chris Evert (quarterfinalist) Hana Mandlíková (fourth round) Pam Shriver (quarterfinalist) Helena Suková (semifinalist) Zina Garrison (fourth round) Gabriela Sabatini (quarterfinalist) Claudia Kohde-Kilsch (quarterfinalist) Manuela Maleeva-Fragnière (fourth round) Lori McNeil (semifinalist) Bettina Bunge (fourth round) Sylvia Hanika (fourth round) Catarina Lindqvist (fourth round) Barbara Potter (first round) Wendy Turnbull (second round)
Qualifying
Draw
Key Q = Qualifier WC = Wild card LL = Lucky loser r = Retired
Final eight
Earlier rounds
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
External links 1987 US Open – Women's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation