Vernonia

Virginia Wade defeated Evonne Goolagong in the final, 6–4, 6–4 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1972 Australian Open.

Margaret Court was the three-time reigning champion, but did not compete that year due to pregnancy.

Seeds

A champion seed is indicated in bold text while text in italics indicates the round in which that seed was eliminated.

Draw

Key

Finals

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Finals
	1	Evonne Goolagong	6	3	6
	8	Barbara Hawcroft	1	6	1
								1	Evonne Goolagong	6	7
								4	Helen Gourlay	2	6
	4	Helen Gourlay	6	6
	5	Olga Morozova	1	2
															1	Evonne Goolagong	4	4
															2	Virginia Wade	6	6
	6	Kerry Harris	6	7
	3	Gail Chanfreau	3	6
								6	Kerry Harris	6	6	0
								2	Virginia Wade	7	2	6
		Patricia Coleman	2	2
	2	Virginia Wade	6	6

Section 1

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	1	E Goolagong	6	6
		H Worland	0	1				1	E Goolagong	6	6
		J Whyte	6	6					J Whyte	3	1
		A Coleman	4	2											1	E Goolagong	6	3	6
		M Schallau	6	6											8	B Hawcroft	1	6	1
		K Wilkinson	1	2					M Schallau	7	5	3
		D James	5	1				8	B Hawcroft	5	7	6
	8	B Hawcroft	7	6																		1	E Goolagong	6	7
	4	H Gourlay	6	6																		4	H Gourlay	2	6
		P Billing	1	2				4	H Gourlay	6	7
		M Morgan	4	2					M Tesch	3	6
		M Tesch	6	6											4	H Gourlay	6	6
		R Knobel	2	4											5	O Morozova	1	2
		S Irvine	6	6					S Irvine	5	6	1
		K Williams	0	1				5	O Morozova	7	4	6
	5	O Morozova	6	6

Section 2

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	6	K Harris	6	6
		C Matison	3	2				6	K Harris	6	7
		S Hole	0	4					W Turnbull	1	6
		W Turnbull	6	6											6	K Harris	6	7
		J Young	6	6											3	G Chanfreau	3	6
		A Lebedeff	0	1					J Young	5	6	1
		B Dart	2	1				3	G Chanfreau	7	4	6
	3	G Chanfreau	6	6																		6	K Harris	6	6	0
	7	K Krantzcke	6	6																		2	V Wade	7	2	6
		P Whytcross	2	0				7	K Krantzcke	6	7	1
		P Coleman	6	6					P Coleman	7	5	6
		M Pratt	3	3												P Coleman	2	2
		J Harris	6	5	6										2	V Wade	6	6
		P King	3	7	1				J Harris	1	0
		C Norquay	3	1					V Wade	6	6
	2	V Wade	6	6

External links

• 1972 Australian Open – Women's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation