2016 US Open – Women's singles

Angelique Kerber defeated Karolína Plíšková in the final, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2016 US Open. It was her first US Open title, and second major singles title overall. Kerber became the first player since Martina Hingis in 1997 to win both hard court majors in the same calendar year, having also won the Australian Open. She also attained the world No. 1 ranking for the first time after Serena Williams failed to reach the final. In addition to Kerber and Williams, Garbiñe Muguruza and Agnieszka Radwańska were in contention for the top ranking. The final was a rematch of the Cincinnati final three weeks prior, won by Plíšková.

Flavia Pennetta was the reigning champion, but retired from the sport at the end of 2015.

Plíšková became the first Czech woman to reach the final since Helena Suková in 1993, and only the fourth player to beat both of the Williams sisters in the same major (defeating Venus Williams in the fourth round and Serena Williams in the semifinals).

Serena Williams was attempting to set new Open Era records by winning a 23rd major singles title and a seventh US Open singles title, but she lost in the semifinals to Plíšková.

This marked the last professional appearance for former world No. 1 and 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic, who lost to Denisa Allertová in the first round. She announced her retirement prior to the 2017 season due to ongoing injuries.

Ana Konjuh became the first Croatian woman to reach the US Open singles quarterfinal.

This was Venus Williams' 72nd main draw major appearance, surpassing the all-time record previously held by Amy Frazier.

Seeds
• 🇺🇸 Serena Williams (semifinals)

• 🇩🇪 Angelique Kerber (champion)

• 🇪🇸 Garbiñe Muguruza (second round)

• 🇵🇱 Agnieszka Radwańska (fourth round)

• 🇷🇴 Simona Halep (quarterfinals)

• 🇺🇸 Venus Williams (fourth round)

• 🇮🇹 Roberta Vinci (quarterfinals)

• 🇺🇸 Madison Keys (fourth round)

• 🇷🇺 Svetlana Kuznetsova (second round)

• 🇨🇿 Karolína Plíšková (final)

• 🇪🇸 Carla Suárez Navarro (fourth round)

• 🇸🇰 Dominika Cibulková (third round)

• 🇬🇧 Johanna Konta (fourth round)

• 🇨🇿 Petra Kvitová (fourth round)

• Timea Bacsinszky (second round)

• 🇦🇺 Samantha Stosur (second round)

• 🇷🇺 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (third round)

• 🇨🇿 Barbora Strýcová (first round)

• 🇷🇺 Elena Vesnina (third round)

•  Kiki Bertens (first round)

• 🇷🇴 Irina-Camelia Begu (first round)

• 🇺🇦 Elina Svitolina (third round)

• 🇷🇺 Daria Kasatkina (first round)

•  Belinda Bencic (third round)

• 🇫🇷 Caroline Garcia (third round)

• 🇩🇪 Laura Siegemund (third round)

• 🇮🇹 Sara Errani (first round)

• 🇺🇸 CoCo Vandeweghe (first round)

• 🇷🇸 Ana Ivanovic (first round)

• 🇯🇵 Misaki Doi (first round)

• 🇭🇺 Tímea Babos (third round)

•  Monica Puig (first round)

Seeded players
The following are the seeded players. Seedings are based on WTA rankings on August 22, 2016. Rank and points before are as of August 29, 2016.

Withdrawn players
The following players would have been seeded, but they withdrew or not entered from the event.

Wild cards
• 🇺🇸 Danielle Collins

• 🇺🇸 Kayla Day

• 🇺🇸 Lauren Davis

• 🇺🇸 Sofia Kenin

• 🇺🇸 Vania King

• 🇺🇸 Bethanie Mattek-Sands

• 🇦🇺 Ellen Perez

• 🇫🇷 Virginie Razzano

Protected ranking
• 🇷🇺 Vitalia Diatchenko (91)

• 🇨🇳 Peng Shuai (27)

Qualifiers
• 🇺🇸 Catherine Bellis

• 🇷🇴 Ana Bogdan

• 🇨🇳 Duan Yingying

• Montserrat González

• 🇦🇹 Barbara Haas

•  Richèl Hogenkamp

• 🇷🇸 Aleksandra Krunić

• 🇸🇰 Kristína Kučová

• 🇩🇪 Antonia Lottner

• 🇧🇪 Elise Mertens

• 🇱🇺 Mandy Minella

• 🇺🇸 Jessica Pegula

• 🇦🇷 Nadia Podoroska

• 🇬🇧 Laura Robson

• 🇺🇸 Taylor Townsend

• 🇨🇳 Wang Yafan

Lucky loser

 * 🇧🇪 Alison Van Uytvanck

Withdrawals
• † 🇧🇾 Victoria Azarenka (6) → replaced by 🇷🇴 Patricia Maria Țig (102)
 * Before the tournament

• † 🇷🇺 Maria Sharapova (97) → replaced by 🇧🇾 Aliaksandra Sasnovich (103)

• & 🇷🇺 Margarita Gasparyan (60) → replaced by 🇷🇺 Evgeniya Rodina (104)

• & 🇰🇿 Galina Voskoboeva (64 PR) → replaced by Stefanie Vögele (105)

• & 🇺🇸 Sloane Stephens (23) → replaced by 🇧🇪 Alison Van Uytvanck (LL)

† – Not included on entry list & – Withdrew from entry list

• 🇺🇸 Madison Brengle
 * Retirements

• Polona Hercog