Elena Likhovtseva was the defending champion but lost in the second round to Maria Vento.
Ai Sugiyama won in the final 7–5, 6–0 against Vento.
Seeds A champion seed is indicated in bold text while text in italics indicates the round in which that seed was eliminated. The top two seeds received a bye to the second round.
Brenda Schultz-McCarthy (quarterfinals) Ruxandra Dragomir (quarterfinals) n/a Ai Sugiyama (champion) Patty Schnyder (second round) Joannette Kruger (first round) Elena Likhovtseva (second round) Anne-Gaëlle Sidot (first round)
Draw
Final
Section 1
Section 2
External links 1998 Thalgo Australian Women's Hardcourts draw