2012 China Open – Women's singles

Victoria Azarenka defeated Maria Sharapova in the final, 6–3, 6–1 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2012 China Open.

Agnieszka Radwańska was the defending champion, but lost to Li Na in the quarterfinals.

Seeds
• # 🇧🇾 Victoria Azarenka (champion)

• # 🇷🇺 Maria Sharapova (final)

• # 🇵🇱 Agnieszka Radwańska (quarterfinals)

• # 🇨🇿 Petra Kvitová (second round)

• # 🇩🇪 Angelique Kerber (quarterfinals, retired due to right foot injury)

• # 🇮🇹 Sara Errani (first round, retired due to left thigh injury)

• # 🇨🇳 Li Na (semifinals)

• # 🇦🇺 Samantha Stosur (second round)

• # 🇫🇷 Marion Bartoli (semifinals)

• # Caroline Wozniacki (third round)

• # 🇷🇸 Ana Ivanovic (third round)

• # 🇸🇰 Dominika Cibulková (first round, retired due to left hip injury)

• # 🇷🇺 Maria Kirilenko (first round)

• # 🇪🇪 Kaia Kanepi (withdrew because of a right heel injury)

• # 🇮🇹 Roberta Vinci (first round)

• # 🇨🇿 Lucie Šafářová (first round)

The four Tokyo semifinalists received a bye into the second round. They are as follows:
 * 🇩🇪 Angelique Kerber
 * 🇷🇺 Nadia Petrova
 * 🇵🇱 Agnieszka Radwańska
 * 🇦🇺 Samantha Stosur

Seeds
• # Anna Tatishvili (first round)

• # 🇧🇾 Olga Govortsova (qualifying competition, lucky loser)

• # 🇷🇸 Bojana Jovanovski (qualified)

• # 🇬🇧 Laura Robson (qualified)

• # 🇭🇺 Tímea Babos (first round)

• # 🇱🇺 Mandy Minella (first round)

• # 🇪🇸 Lourdes Domínguez Lino (qualified)

• # Petra Martić (first round)

• # 🇷🇺 Elena Vesnina (qualified)

• # 🇫🇷 Pauline Parmentier (qualifying competition)

• # 🇦🇺 Casey Dellacqua (first round)

• # 🇬🇧 Heather Watson (qualifying competition)

• # 🇯🇵 Ayumi Morita (qualified)

• # 🇨🇿 Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová (withdrew, still competing in Tokyo)

• # 🇸🇪 Johanna Larsson (qualifying competition)

• # 🇰🇿 Galina Voskoboeva (qualifying competition)

• # 🇫🇷 Mathilde Johansson (first round)

Qualifiers
• # 🇪🇸 Lara Arruabarrena Vecino

• # 🇷🇺 Elena Vesnina

• # 🇷🇸 Bojana Jovanovski

• # 🇬🇧 Laura Robson

• # Polona Hercog

• # 🇮🇹 Camila Giorgi

• # 🇪🇸 Lourdes Domínguez Lino

• # 🇯🇵 Ayumi Morita

Lucky losers

 * 1) 🇧🇾 Olga Govortsova