Kim Clijsters defeated Mary Pierce in the final, 6–3, 6–1 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2005 US Open. It was her first major singles title (following four runner-up finishes in major finals) and the first of an eventual three US Open titles. Svetlana Kuznetsova was the defending champion, but was defeated by Ekaterina Bychkova in the first round. Kuznetsova became the first US Open champion to lose in the first round of her title defense. This was the first major tournament in which Maria Sharapova competed as the world No. 1. She was defeated in the semifinals by Clijsters. This was also the final major appearance for former world No. 2 and 1994 Wimbledon champion Conchita Martínez.

Seeds

• # 🇷🇺 Maria Sharapova (semifinals) • # 🇺🇸 Lindsay Davenport (quarterfinals) • # 🇫🇷 Amélie Mauresmo (quarterfinals) • # 🇧🇪 Kim Clijsters (champion) • # 🇷🇺 Svetlana Kuznetsova (first round) • # 🇷🇺 Elena Dementieva (semifinals) • # 🇧🇪 Justine Henin (fourth round) • # 🇺🇸 Serena Williams (fourth round) • # 🇷🇺 Nadia Petrova (quarterfinals) • # 🇺🇸 Venus Williams (quarterfinals) • # Patty Schnyder (fourth round) • # 🇫🇷 Mary Pierce (final) • # 🇷🇺 Anastasia Myskina (third round) • # 🇦🇺 Alicia Molik (first round) • # 🇫🇷 Nathalie Dechy (fourth round) • # 🇷🇺 Elena Bovina (withdrew) • # Jelena Janković (third round, retired) • # Ana Ivanovic (second round) • # 🇷🇺 Elena Likhovtseva (fourth round) • # 🇸🇰 Daniela Hantuchová (third round) • # 🇷🇺 Dinara Safina (first round) • # 🇮🇹 Silvia Farina Elia (first round) • # 🇫🇷 Tatiana Golovin (third round) • # 🇯🇵 Shinobu Asagoe (third round) • # 🇮🇹 Francesca Schiavone (third round) • # 🇨🇿 Nicole Vaidišová (fourth round) • # 🇦🇷 Gisela Dulko (second round) • # 🇮🇹 Flavia Pennetta (first round) • # 🇷🇺 Anna Chakvetadze (third round) • # 🇯🇵 Ai Sugiyama (third round) • # 🇩🇪 Anna-Lena Grönefeld (third round) • # 🇪🇸 Anabel Medina Garrigues (third round) • # 🇷🇺 Vera Dushevina (second round)

Qualifying

Draw

Finals

Top half

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Bottom half

Section 5

Section 6

Section 7

Section 8

Championship match statistics