Steffi Graf defeated Gabriela Sabatini in the final, 6–3, 3–6, 6–1 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1988 US Open. It was her first US Open title and fifth major title overall. With the win, she became the third woman to complete the Grand Slam, after Maureen Connolly and Margaret Court. Moreover, it was the fourth component of her Golden Slam, which remains the only calendar Golden Slam achieved in pedestrian tennis, and Graf completed the career Grand Slam with the win. It was Sabatini's first major final. Martina Navratilova was the two-time defending champion, but was defeated in the quarterfinals by Zina Garrison. This was the first US Open final in 15 years not to feature an American, the last occasion being in 1973.

Seeds

• # Steffi Graf (champion) • # 🇺🇸 Martina Navratilova (quarterfinals) • # 🇺🇸 Chris Evert (semifinals, withdrew due to illness) • # 🇺🇸 Pam Shriver (second round) • # 🇦🇷 Gabriela Sabatini (final) • # 🇧🇬 Manuela Maleeva-Fragnière (quarterfinals) • # Helena Suková (fourth round) • # Natasha Zvereva (first round) • # 🇺🇸 Lori McNeil (third round) • # Claudia Kohde-Kilsch (third round) • # 🇺🇸 Zina Garrison (semifinals) • # 🇺🇸 Barbara Potter (fourth round) • # 🇺🇸 Mary Joe Fernández (third round) • # 🇧🇬 Katerina Maleeva (quarterfinals) • # Sylvia Hanika (third round) • # Larisa Savchenko (quarterfinals)

Qualifying

Draw

Finals

Top half

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Bottom half

Section 5

Section 6

Section 7

Section 8