2013 BWF World Championships – Women's singles

The women's singles tournament of the 2013 BWF World Championships (World Badminton Championships) was held from August 5 to 11. Wang Yihan was the defending champion. Ratchanok Inthanon defeated Li Xuerui 22–20, 18–21, 21–14 in the final.

Seeds
🇨🇳 Li Xuerui (final) 🇨🇳 Wang Yihan (third round) 🇮🇳 Saina Nehwal (quarterfinals) 🇹🇭 Ratchanok Intanon (champion) 🇰🇷 Sung Ji-hyun (third round) Tai Tzu-ying (quarterfinals) 🇨🇳 Wang Shixian (quarterfinals) 🇯🇵 Minatsu Mitani (second round)

Lindaweni Fanetri (third round) 🇮🇳 P. V. Sindhu (semifinals) 🇯🇵 Eriko Hirose (third round) 🇹🇭 Sapsiree Taerattanachai (second round) 🇰🇷 Bae Yeon-ju (semifinals) 🇹🇭 Busanan Ongbumrungpan (second round) 🇹🇭 Porntip Buranaprasertsuk (third round) 🇭🇰 Yip Pui Yin (third round)