2012 Australian Open – Women's singles

Victoria Azarenka defeated Maria Sharapova in the final, 6–3, 6–0 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2012 Australian Open. It was her first major title. Azarenka became the first Belarusian to reach and win a major final, and became the world No. 1 in doing so. Caroline Wozniacki, Petra Kvitová and Maria Sharapova were also in contention for the top ranking.

Kim Clijsters was the defending champion, but was defeated in the semifinals by Azarenka.

For the first time in the tournament's history, all eight quarterfinalists were European. This was also the first major main draw appearance for future three-time major champion and world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, who was defeated in the first round by Anna Tatishvili.

Seeds
• Caroline Wozniacki (quarterfinals)

• 🇨🇿 Petra Kvitová (semifinals)

• 🇧🇾 Victoria Azarenka (champion)

• 🇷🇺 Maria Sharapova (final)

• 🇨🇳 Li Na (fourth round)

• 🇦🇺 Samantha Stosur (first round)

• 🇷🇺 Vera Zvonareva (third round)

• 🇵🇱 Agnieszka Radwańska (quarterfinals)

• 🇫🇷 Marion Bartoli (third round)

• 🇮🇹 Francesca Schiavone (second round)

• 🇧🇪 Kim Clijsters (semifinals)

• 🇺🇸 Serena Williams (fourth round)

• 🇷🇸 Jelena Janković (fourth round)

• 🇩🇪 Sabine Lisicki (fourth round)

• 🇷🇺 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (second round)

• 🇨🇳 Peng Shuai (second round)

• 🇸🇰 Dominika Cibulková (second round)

• 🇷🇺 Svetlana Kuznetsova (third round)

• 🇮🇹 Flavia Pennetta (first round)

• 🇸🇰 Daniela Hantuchová (third round)

• 🇷🇸 Ana Ivanovic (fourth round)

• 🇩🇪 Julia Görges (fourth round)

• 🇮🇹 Roberta Vinci (second round)

• 🇨🇿 Lucie Šafářová (first round)

• 🇪🇪 Kaia Kanepi (second round)

• 🇪🇸 Anabel Medina Garrigues (third round, retired because of a right ankle injury)

• 🇷🇺 Maria Kirilenko (third round, retired because of a left leg injury)

• 🇧🇪 Yanina Wickmayer (first round)

• 🇷🇺 Nadia Petrova (second round)

• 🇩🇪 Angelique Kerber (third round)

• 🇷🇴 Monica Niculescu (third round)

• 🇨🇿 Petra Cetkovská (second round)